Pennsylvania

Sweden had settlements in the lands we today call Delaware and southern New Jersey. They also set up trading posts in Pennsylvania.

After the England took control of New Sweden, the King gave William Penn

a charter for a colony. It made him the proprietor of Pennsylvania.

William Penn was a member of the Society of Friends. The Society of Friends was a religious group that was also known as the Quakers.

Quakers believe that all people are equal. They also believe that all violence is wrong. Problems should be solved peacefully without fighting. Quakers refused to use guns in battle or to fight in the King's army.

Quakers in England were treated unfairly. William Penn

wanted his colony to be a refuge, or safe place for Quakers. He wanted all settlers to be able to worship as they pleased. Quakers and other settlers who wanted religious freedom went to Pennsylvania. William Penn wrote a document called the Pennsylvania Frame of Government. This document promised the people of Pennsylvania three freedoms. It promised Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, and a Trial by Jury. The Frame of Government also said there should be an elected General Assembly made up of men who would make the laws for the Colony.

One of Pennsylvania's settlements was Philadelphia.

Philadelphia had a good location on the Delaware River. It had a good harbor for shipping and trading. Philadelphia became the main port of the colony for goods and immigrants. Immigrants are people who move to a country after leaving the country of their birth.

Many immigrants from all over Europe, moved to Pennsylvania.

This helped the colony to prosper. The immigrants included Irish Catholics, German Lutherans, and Jews from many countries. Many of the immigrants were skilled workers. They were bakers, carpenters, shoemakers, tailors,
butchers, and blacksmiths. Other immigrants began small farms and raised
fruits, vegetables and wheat.

Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania means "Penn's woods."

proprietor - William Penn was a Quaker. His father had loaned a large amount of money to King Charles II of England. After his father died, William Penn went to the King to ask for the borrowed money. But instead of asking for money, he asked to be paid in land in America. The King granted him Pennsylvania. The colony was larger than England.

Society of Friends - Quakers, had some unusual ideas. Their ideas threatened the security of the rich. The rich had power and privilege. The poor had to act respectful of them. Quakers did not bow to higher ranking people. Quakers believe that everyone is equal. They refused to pay taxes to England. English taxes supported the Church of England. Quakers refused to be drafted into the Kings army. They believed it was wrong to fight. Quakers also spoke about the "natural rights" of people. This idea was later included in our Declaration of Independence.

William Penn - William Penn was born into a wealthy family. His father was an Admiral in the King's Navy. The family belonged to the Church of England. His father was a friend of King Charles II. William Penn became a Quaker. He was kicked out of college and was sent to jail for being a Quaker.

Credits

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