PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY

1. PART 1 – PRE – COLONIAL TO THE REVOLUTION PENNSYLVANIA HISTORY

2. THE FIRST INHABITANTS • The first inhabitants of Pensynlvania were several Native American tribes including • 1. The Delawares (Leni – Lenape or “real men”) • 2. The Susquehanocks (lived along the Susquehanna River) • 3. The Shawnees (came from the west in 1690s) • 4. Iroquois Confederacy (Five Nations – Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas) • 5. Other tribes (Eries, Mahicans, Nanticokes) Right – Susquehannock Warrior Left - Delaware Indian

3. EUROPEAN EXPLORATION • Captain John Smith – travelled up the Susquehanna River from Virginia in 1608 • Henry Hudson sailed into Delaware Bay in 1609 • Captain Samuel Argall sailed into the bay in 1610 and named it for Lord de la Warr (Delaware), then governor of Virginia Capt. John Smith Lord de la Warr Henry Hudson

4. FOUNDING OF PENNSYLVANIA • William Penn born October 24, 1644 • Religious convert to the Society of Friends (Quakers) • Religion founded by George Fox in 1647 • Rejected ritual and oaths, opposed war, and believed in simple speech and dress • Religion was unpopular among British subjects, but Penn’s friendship with the Duke of York kept him the king’s court William Penn George Fox Quaker meeting

5. THE CHARTER • King Charles II owed Penn 16,000 pounds • Penn asked for the land between Lord Baltimore’s province of Maryland and the Duke of York’s province of New York • King signed the charter of Pennsylvania on March 4, 1681 • King named colony in honor of William Penn’s father • It included the territory that is the state of Delaware today

6. THE NEW COLONY • April 1681, Penn made his cousin, William Markham, deputy governor of the new province • Oct. 1682, Penn arrives on the ship Welcome • Visits new capital city – Philadelphia • Created the original three counties • Summoned General Assembly to Chester • Great Law - 1682 • Fundamental basis of Pennsylvania law • Guaranteed liberty of conscience • Whereas the glory of Almighty God and the good of mankind is the reason and the end of government, and, therefore government itself is a venerable ordinance of God... [there shall be established] laws as shall best preserve true Christian and civil liberty, in opposition to all unchristian, licentious, and unjust practices, whereby God may have his due, and Caesar his due, and the people their due, from tyranny and oppression." • By time Penn leaves in 1684, the foundations of the new Quaker province were firmly established

7. POPULATION • Indian tribes • William Penn made sure to buy land from Indians before settling it • English • English Quakers dominated new province • Lived in the southeastern counties • Germans • Comprised one-third of population • Settled in interior counties (including Berks county) • Transformed area into rich farming country • Scotch-Irish • Settled in central and western areas • African Americans • About 4,000 slaves brought by 1730 • Pennsylvania Gradual Abolition Act of 1780 first emancipation law in United States • Others • French Huguenots, Jewish settlers, Dutch, Swedes and other groups settled in Pennsylvania • Drawn to the provinces’ tolerance of others

8. EARLY GOVERNMENT • In 1701, William Penn along with the Assembly agreed on a Charter of Privileges which remained in effect until 1776 • Gave the Assembly full legislative powers • Ruled by Deputy Governors (called simply governors) who represented the Penn family • Throughout the 18th century, the Penn heirs abandoned Quakerism which brought them into conflict with the Quaker dominated Assembly John Penn – last Penn governor

9. PENNSYLVANIA DURING THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR • Pennsylvania supplied men and supplies to the British Empire • French established forts in Erie, Waterford, Pittsburgh and Franklin which threatened all the middle colonies • 1755 – General Braddock’s colonial army slaughtered on the Monongahela • 1758 – General Forbes helps re-capture Pittsburgh General John Forbes

10. ECONOMICS • Agriculture • PA ranked as a leader – surpluses exported • Main crops – corn, wheat, rye, and flax • Manufacture • PA had abundance of natural resources • Sawmills and gristmills utilized water power • Iron and pig iron were manufactured • Printing and papermaking were leading industries • Conestoga wagon developed in Lancaster Co. • Commerce and Transportation • Rivers important for transportation • Trade with Indians for furs • Philadelphia became an important colonial trade center • By 1776, PA’s imports and exports worth several millions of dollars

11. SOCIETY AND CULTURE • Arts and Learning • Philadelphia known as “Athens of America” • Freedom of expression permitted strong intellectual and educational opportunities • 1740 – College of Philadelphia established (now called University of Pennsylvania) • Public buildings in Philadelphia were marvel of colonies • Men of intellect – Benjamin Franklin, David Rittenhouse, Benjamin West achieve international acclaim • Center of law and medicine; newspapers and magazines flourished • Pennsylvania claims the first hospital, library and insurance company in U.S. history • Religion • Quakers continue to influence southeastern part of the colony • Pennsylvania Dutch (Germans) were Lutherans, Amish, Mennonites, Brethren, and Moravians • First Catholic congregation organized in PA in 1720 and first chapel erected in 1733; PA had second largest population of Catholics in the colonies

12. PENNSYLVANIA ON THE EVE OF THE REVOLUTION • By 1776… • Pennsylvania was third largest colony • Philadelphia largest city in the colonies • Number of counties increased from 3 to 11 • Philadelphia was a center of revolutionary spirit • Groups of artisans and mechanics were loyal to Benjamin Franklin and formed grassroots resistance organizations • Center of resistance to Stamp Act and Intolerable Act