Province of Pennsylvania

Quick Facts: Who was Province of Pennsylvania?

Subject:

Province of Pennsylvania

Known for:

A foundational British colony in North America, known for its religious tolerance and Quaker influence.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Province of Pennsylvania, also known as the Pennsylvania Colony, was a British colony situated on the Mid-Atlantic seaboard of North America. The colony was founded for religious thinker William Penn, who received the land through a 1681 grant from Charles II of England. The name Pensiylvania (later standardized to Pennsylvania) is derived from Latin, meaning "Penn's Woods," a reference to William's father, Admiral Sir William Penn, rewarded for his wartime service in Jamaica and the Dutch Republic. Pennsylvania received its charter in 1681 for the stated purpose of "enlarging our English Empire" and "reducing the savage Natives by gentle and just manners to the Love of Civil Societie and Christian Religion". It bestowed Penn a great deal of freedom regarding its administration; It encouraged lawful immigration and furnished settlers liberal property rights, free trade with the indigenous population and "good and happy government"–at the judgement of the crown which was to review the colony's laws on a 5 year basis.

Career & Major Achievements

The Penns were notorious members of the landed gentry and frequent creditors to the English royal family. William's father alone was owed £16,000 by the English king for wartime bonds. The younger Penn condition that he pay "free and comon Socage, by fealty only for all Services" in the form of annual payments of two beaver skins and a 1/5th return of all gold and silver ore found there. He intended for it to be a "Holy experiment" with the guidance of the Christian Society of Friends (Quakers). Pennsylvania's colonial history begun with several small settlements along the Delaware river, and by the American revolution in 1776, its borders extended across the Appalachian mountains.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Before European colonization, the Delaware and Susquehanna valleys were inhabited by several peoples, including the Lenape and Susquehannock. Competition among European powers and economic incentives, such as the new lucrative fur trade, attracted migrants. Upland, on the lower reaches of the Delaware, was founded by Swedish colonists in 1644 as a tobacco plantation within New Sweden before its eventual fall to Dutch forces and annexation to New Netherland. On the English conquest of New Netherland that followed, in 1682, it was incorporated as Chester, the first town in the fledging Pennsylvania colony. Shortly upstream, Philadelphia, the colony's capital, was founded.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1644: 1644 Milestone — Upland, on the lower reaches of the Delaware, was founded by Swedish colonists in 1644 as a tobacco plantation within New Sweden before its eventual fall to Dutch forces and annexation to New Netherland.
2. 1681: 1681 Milestone — The colony was founded for religious thinker William Penn, who received the land through a 1681 grant from Charles II of England.
3. 1682: 1682 Milestone — On the English conquest of New Netherland that followed, in 1682, it was incorporated as Chester, the first town in the fledging Pennsylvania colony.
4. 1776: 1776 Milestone — Pennsylvania's colonial history begun with several small settlements along the Delaware river, and by the American revolution in 1776, its borders extended across the Appalachian mountains.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Province of Pennsylvania

True or False: “The initial charter granted to William Penn stipulated that the colony's primary purpose was solely economic profit through fur trade.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While commerce was important, the charter also emphasized religious goals, aiming to reduce natives 'by gentle and just manners to the Love of Civil Societie and Christian Religion'.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Georg Philipp Telemann — Historical peer (Born in 1681) (1681): Prolific German Baroque composer, known for his mastery across multiple genres and instruments.
• Patriarch Nikon of Moscow — Historical peer (Died in 1681) (1681): Seventh Patriarch of Moscow, known for liturgical reforms and political influence.
• Amedeo Avogadro — Historical peer (Born in 1776) (1776): Pioneering Italian scientist known for Avogadro's law on gas volumes and molecular theory.
• David Hume — Historical peer (Died in 1776) (1776): Scottish philosopher renowned for empiricism, skepticism, and naturalism.
• Antonio Stradivari — Historical peer (Born in 1644) (1644): Master Italian luthier renowned for creating some of the finest string instruments.
• Chongzhen Emperor — Historical peer (Died in 1644) (1644): The last emperor of the Ming Dynasty, whose reign ended with the fall of Beijing.
• 5th Dalai Lama — Historical peer (Died in 1682) (1682): Spiritual and political leader of Tibet, unifying the region under the Ganden Phodrang.
• Bartholomew Roberts — Historical peer (Born in 1682) (1682): Most successful pirate of the Golden Age, known for capturing over 400 prize ships.

Frequently Asked Questions about Province of Pennsylvania