Colony of pennsylvania facts

The pennsylvania colony was among the middle colonies of america, which included prominent colonies such as new york, new jersey, and delaware. During colonial times pennsylvania was the middle colony of the original colonies there are six states above it and six states below it. These colonies were divided into three regions which included the new england. Pennsylvania colony history of pennsylvania colony in the colonial period. What is the climate and geography of pennsylvania colony.

You will learn about the early inhabitants, being a part of the colonies, and pennsylvania s role in the revolutionary. Quakers were the dominant english element, although many english settlers were anglican. The colonial american government, established in 1683 by william penns frame of government, consisted of an appointed governor, the. The province of pennsylvania was one of the two major restoration colonies, the other being the province of carolina.

It was founded in 1682 by the english quaker william penn. Penn was born in london on october 24, 1644, the son of admiral sir william penn. The constitution of the united states, the declaration of independence, and the gettysburg address were all written in pennsylvania. The state of pennsylvania was originally a private land that was later transformed into a bustling colony. The land of pennsylvania was inhabited by native american tribes long before the first europeans arrived.

The land that is now pennsylvania was actually first claimed by the swedes under peter minuit in 1638. Pennsylvanias nickname, the keystone state, originated during the early days of the united states. The pennsylvania colony was one of four middle colonies which also included the new york colony, the delaware colony, and the new jersey colony. Pennsylvania students britannica kids homework help. Under the constitution of 1968pennsylvanias fourth since becoming a stateand its subsequent amendments, the executive branch consists of the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, auditor general, state treasurer, and governors cabinet. Actor jimmy stewart was born and raised in the town of indiana. Smaller cities have various governmental forms, while boroughs have elected councils and mayors with limited powers. Pennsylvania actually means penns woods, referring to the holder of the founding colonial charter, william penn. This page tells about the history of the pennsylvania colony. Pennsylvania s history extends back some 15,000 years to when the first people settled there. William penn, a member of a christian group called the quakers, founded the british colony of pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania pictures and facts national geographic kids. Wood is one of the most important resources in the colony. What are facts about colonial pennsylvania answers. These tribes included the shawnee in the southwest, the susquehannock in the south, the delaware in the southeast, and the iroquois oneida and seneca tribes in the north. The pennsylvania colony the pennsylvania colony was one of the original colonies located on the atlantic coast of north america. He received the charter in 1681 from englands king charles ii as a gift in thanks for the service that penns father, sir william penn, had rendered england as an admiral in the royal navy.

This bundle contains 11 readytouse pennsylvania worksheets that are perfect for students who want to learn more about pennsylvania, officially the commonwealth of pennsylvania, of which is a u. Penn was granted the charter as a place for quakers to settle. After the american revolution, pennsylvania became the second state, after delaware, to ratify the u. Although william penn was granted all the land in pennsylvania by the king. Pennsylvania colony history of pennsylvania colony in. Beginning in the colonial period, pennsylvania s traditions of civil and religious freedom attracted people of many lands. The founder of the pennsylvania colony died in 1718, nearly a halfcentury before the united states became a thing.

The pennsylvania colony was one of the original colonies in america. There is a lot of history here, but also a rich ethnic diversity because of the. The pennsylvania colony was founded by william penn and others in 1682. He named the land pennsylvania after his family name penn and after the forests in the land sylvania is forest land in latin. Keystone state during colonial times pennsylvania was the middle colony of the original colonies. William penn helped pennsylvania have a better life and have peace in the colony. When the first european settlers arrived, pennsylvania was home to several stone age tribes of native americans, mainly the delawares, susquehannocks, shawnees and iroquois.

The delaware, or lenni lenape, occupied the delaware valley. Six states lay to the north and east, and six to the south. In march 1681 charles ii of england signed a charter giving any unoccupied regions. It was founded in 1682 by william penn at philadelphia and the major industry was agriculture as they produced wheat, corn, cattle and. Its biggest city of philadelphia was once the capital of the united states. Daily life and relations the colony of pennsylvania. Overview of pennsylvania history and heritage in 1643, the governor of new sweden, johan printz, established a capital for his colony near presentday philadelphia and called it tinicum island. The new york colony was one of the four middle colonies which also included the pennsylvania colony, the new jersey colony, and the delaware colony. Penn founded the colony in 1681 as a refuge for quakers. Penn wanted his colony to be a place of religious freedom.

Fast facts and interesting information about the founding, establishment, geography, climate, religion, history, natural resources, raw material, industries refer to colonial times and the famous historical people associated with the pennsylvania colony of colonial america. Pennsylvania was among three of the original colonies that were given provincial charters. It was founded under a charter given to william penn. In 1681, william penn, a quaker, was given a land grant from king charles ii, who owed money to penns deceased father. A brief history of the colony of pennsylvania, 16381703. This marks the first permanent settlement by europeans in pennsylvania. Like other british colonies on the continent, pennsylvania attracted immigrants from the many rural households pushed off the land in britain.

It is located in the northeastern and midatlantic regions of the united states. Sep 24, 2017 apush colony video by tryphena sithu and nora miodrag. Indiana county is the christmas tree capital of the world. If you want to know the complete story of the pennsylvania colony, read this momjunction article. The founding of pennsylvania, about 40,000 square miles, was confirmed to william penn under the great seal on january 5, 1681. The english, dutch, and swedes all made claims to the land with the swedes becoming the first to make permanent settlement in 1638. Archaeologists generally believe that the first settlement of the americas occurred at least 15,000 years ago during the last glacial period, though it is unclear when humans first entered the area known as pennsylvania. It is used for a task called log raising, when people come together to help build a log cabin. Apush colony video by tryphena sithu and nora miodrag. Pennsylvanias capital, philadelphia, was the site of the first and second continental congresses in 1774 and 1775, the latter of which produced the declaration of independence, sparking the american revolution. Pennsylvania s history of human habitation extends to thousands of years before the foundation of the province of pennsylvania. Mar 05, 2020 throughout my four years traveling pa, ive visited hundreds of amazing places and learned many amazing facts about pennsylvania.

The colony saw an inflow of people from several parts of the world, which brought diversity in the economy too. Some of the first settlers were welsh quakers looking for a place where they could practice their religion without persecution. Pennsylvania also accounts for nearly 10 percent of americas forested area, so there is plenty of room for outdoor recreation tourism to balance the incredible history on display. The colonial american government, established in 1683 by william penns frame of government, consisted of. Moisture from the air keeps it cool and humid as well as maintains a level of moisture in the ground, therefore making very suited for agriculture. Philadelphia was our state capital during the revolutionary war and york was the first capital of the united states. In 1681, william penn established a colony based on religious tolerance. In 1655, dutch troops, under the command of governor peter stuyvesant of new amsterdam new york, took control of the swedish colony and held it until the british duke of york seized control of it and all of new amsterdam in 1664.

Pennsylvania began life as a huge quaker colony that encouraged religious tolerance. The pennsylvania colony lasted until december 12, 1787, when the state of pennsylvania was created as the 2nd state. Dec 16, 2017 part of pennsylvania along the delaware river, together with the present state of delaware, had earlier been organized as the colony of new sweden. Benjamin franklin started the countrys first zoo in philadelphia. While you might know some of them, i bet youll learn something new.

Pennsylvania stood in the center of the new republic. The century that followed was a period of great expansion and turmoil for pennsylvania. Pennsylvania facts 32 interesting facts about pennsylvania. In april 1681, penn made his cousin william markham deputy governor of the province and sent him to take control. Pennsylvanias capital, philadelphia, was the site of. The religion was illigal in england, so quakers fled to pennsylvania in search of refuge. Pennsylvania colony was not the first colony to offer religious freedom rhode island colony was the first but it certainly played a role in their growth. The pennsylvania colony was founded in 1681 by william penn, a. The birth of pennsylvania depicts william penn receiving pennsylvania s royal charter from king charles ii of england. Penn induced people to emigrate, the terms being 40 shillings per hundred acres, and shares of 5,000 acres for 100 pounds. Few states can equal pennsylvania s wealth of natural resources, its diversity of landscape, or its contributions to united states history.

The proprietary colonys charter remained in the hands of the penn family until the american revolution, when the commonwealth of pennsylvania was created and became one of the original thirteen states. What made pennsylvania different was penns extraordinary policy of religious toleration. In november 1682 the first 3 pennsylvania counties formed were bucks, chester and philadelphia counties. Pennsylvania is spelled pensylvania on the liberty bell. Creation of pennsylvania william penn and charles ii.

The quaker province the founding of pennsylvania william penn and the quakers. A 1968 constitutional amendment permitted municipalities to choose home rule. The colony and province of pennsylvania was set up and ruled over by william penn penn was granted the land by king charles the ii in a royal charter. The proprietary colony s charter remained in the hands of the penn family until the american revolution, when the commonwealth of pennsylvania was created and became one of. The name pennsylvania, which translates roughly as penns woods, was created by combining the penn surname in honor of williams father, admiral. Pennsylvania was one of the middle colonies, along with new york, new jersey, maryland and delaware. The pennsylvania colony was initially called the province of pennsylvania by the british. This lecture is a brief introduction to the early history of the pennsylvania colony. The history of pennsylvania begins in 1681 when william penn received a royal deed from king charles ii of england, although human activity in the region precedes that date. The new york colony was originally a dutch colony called new amsterdam, founded by peter minuit in 1626 on manhattan island. History and facts of the pennsylvania colony synonym. Pennsylvania mc carlton the ruffed grouse flies with barry the bald eagle around the historic state of pennsylvania. The birth of pennsylvania depicts william penn receiving pennsylvanias royal charter from king charles ii of england. The secretary of state and the secretary of education are appointed by the governor.

Sep 10, 2012 what are facts about pennsylvania colony. A detailed history of the commonwealth of pennsylvania, from 1630 to 1700. The original colonies were divided into three geographic areas consisting of the new england, middle and southern colonies. Pennsylvania was first colonized by swedish and dutch settlers in the 17th century, before the english took control of the colony in 1667. The proprietary colony s charter remained in the hands of the penn family until the american revolution, when the commonwealth of pennsylvania was created and became one of the original thirteen states. Government structure in colonial pennsylvania education. Fact file of the government, history, geography and religion of the pennsylvania colony.

The settlers of pennsylvania meet their needs by using wood for homes, wagons, tools, crates, benches, and bowls. William penn allowed for religious freedom, fair treatment of indians, low taxes, and no debt. Pennsylvania is the 5 th most populous, the 33 rd most extensive, and the 9 th most populated of the 50 states of the united states. Pennsylvania was the only colony of the original thirteen that did not border the atlantic ocean. It was the first permanent settlement in the pennsylvania region. The rest of pennsylvanias cities are designated as thirdclass. The colonies were a group of colonies of great britain that settled on the atlantic coast of america in the 17th and 18th centuries. William penn was the son of sir william penn, an admiral in the british navy, who rendered important services to the nation, on account of which, and by way of recompense debt, charles ii granted to the son the territory of pennsylvania, and so naming it after penn himself.

It was founded in 1682 by william penn at philadelphia and the major industry was agriculture as. British pennsylvania national museum of american history. The new york colony was one of the original colonies in america. The land that became the pennsylvania colony had been in dispute for many years by the english, dutch, and the swedes. Pennsylvania is called the keystone state because of its central location of the original colonies. Minuit had agreed to help them establish a colony after. At the time of european settlement, the native american population was small and widely scattered. Minuit had agreed to help them establish a colony after having a falling out with dutch officials. Pennsylvania was so named, in 1681, after william penn, the founder of philadelphia. Here are some of the most interesting pennsylvania facts youll find on the internet. We give you 41 interesting facts about how the pennsylvania colony came into existence, its people, and its unification into the usa.

He created a haven not only for quakers but also for other dissenting groups persecuted in europe. Pennsylvania attained statehood on december 12, 1787, becoming the 2 nd state to join the union. Charles ii, king of england owed money to penns family. And pennsylvania has the most people in one colony to sign the declaration of independence. The colony of pennsylvania had a mild climate with coastal plains, plateaus and mountains.

There are quite a number of facts about pennsylvania colony. He made the great treaty in 1682 with the delaware indians and william penn. The pennsylvania colony was also called the province of pennsylvania. The pennsylvania colony was dominated by the quaker religious beliefs and values. The original colonies were divided into three regions which included the new england colonies, the middle colonies, and the southern colonies. This ideology evolved into the birthplace of america, where the founding fathers gathered in philadelphia to draft the declaration of independence and the first us constitution. The history of pennsylvania begins in 1681 when william penn. United states the province of pennsylvania, also known as the pennsylvania colony, was founded in english north america by william penn on march 4, 1681 as dictated in a royal charter granted by king charles ii. Firstly the colony was founded because britain gave the and to william penn to repay debt owed to his father, as previously discussed.

At that time the country was made up of states spread along the atlantic seaboard. It was among the original english colonies of america. Founding governor william penn and his colonists chose to follow the general government structure but also diverged from general ruling practices by giving some power. The climate and geography of colonial pennsylvania was similar to that of the current state of pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is the only original colony not bordered by the atlantic ocean. Us history etext middle colonies pennsylvania pennsylvania the idea of founding a separate colony in america as a refuge for persecuted quakers was not original with william penn, but with george fox, the founder of the sect. It held the colonies together like the keystone in a window or door arch. The pennsylvania colony was one of the original british colonies that became the united states of america.

History and facts of pennsylvania counties my counties. Thousands of germans were also attracted to the colony and, by the. One of the original colonies, pennsylvania was founded by william penn as a haven for his fellow quakers. Pennsylvania colony historycentral home historys home. Check out this site for facts about the pennsylvania colony. In march 1681 charles ii of england signed a charter giving any unoccupied regions to william penn in payment of a debt owed by the king.