The Pennsylvania Colony By Isaac and Wyatt.

Introducing: The Pennsylvania Colony. Welcome to Pennsylvania! This state was founded in 1681 by William Penn. The King had granted it to him. Penn's father gave money to the king, but then Penn's father died before the king could pay him back, so William Penn was granted Pennsylvania. William Penn was a Quaker and wanted a colony that had religious freedom.

The first People Long before Penn arrived, or even before English settlers came to the new land, Native Americans were thriving. The Lenni Lenape were the first Indians in the Pennsylvania area. They were a very peaceful tribe that united with the settlers in that area. They did not want war with the settlers. They lived in home made of bark and wood. They planted beans, squash, and corn (The Three Sisters) for food.

The Early Settlers In 1638 Swedish and Finland people came to settle in the Americas. They built New Sweden near today's Philadelphia, the capital. New Sweden did not last long and was soon taken over by the Dutch in New York in 1655, and soon by the English in the English used the lands to make the Pennsylvania.

In 1681 King Charles II made Penn the proprietor of the Pennsylvania Colony. Penn moved to Pennsylvania in English and Dutch settlers had settled on the lands. Settlers could buy land cheaply. Philadelphia was the first and largest, also a capital, city in the American colonies.

Life in the Colony Every one worked hard in Pennsylvania, some men and boys worked in the fields while others worked as master craftsmen. Women and girls worked in the gardens and took care of the livestock. The women used vegetables to feed their families. Extra vegetables where sold at the market.

Schools where not the most important thing in the colony, children rarely attended to them (they had to work). Quakers opened schools where anyone was allowed, unlike in the other colonies, to attend. In 1718 life in the colony changed because Penn's sons had taken over the colony. They did not want peace with the Native Americans and fights eventually broke out.

Work and Trade Pennsylvania's first settlers were farmers. They grew wheat, corn, and rye because they had fertile soil. As the colony grew, blacksmiths and tanners came into the colony. By the late 1700s Philadelphia was a busy port city. Philadelphia had a large Market that brought many traders and farmers to the city. Some colonist worked as indentured servants.

Work and Trade Slaves Other people that worked in the colony were Africans who were enslaved against their will. William Penn had created booklets to advertise his new colony to farmers and traders. Indentured servants started their own farms when they were freed after 4-7 years of volunteered work.

Exports Farmers exported many goods such as flax seeds, rye, corn, and wheat. Merchants and traders exported iron, glass, rope, and lumber. Shipping businesses made merchants rich. They could easily ship goods across the Atlantic ocean.

Religion and Community Religion The Pennsylvania welcomed many different religions into the colony. Penn built the colony so Quakers and others could worship freely. The Quaker religion began in the mid-1600s when the Society of Friends began. They had religious meetings once a month to pray silently. Many other religions came into the colony such as the Jews, and Moravians

Community Pennsylvania's colonists were divided by social class. Rich merchants were the most respected group, then came lawyers and ministers, next skilled craftsmen, then finally, servants and laborers. African Americans were the least respected. Although they lived in separate classes, many colonists helped others in different classes. Doctor Thomas Bond and Benjamin Franklin helped start the first hospital in Pennsylvania.

Becoming a State Like other colonists, Pennsylvanians enjoyed governing themselves. Theory grew tired of British laws and high taxes. Troubles with great Britain grew and in 1775 the Revolutionary war began. In July 1776, representatives from each of the colonies approved the Declaration of Independence. On December , Pennsylvania adopted the US Constitution and became a state.

Statehood Pennsylvania was the second state founded. It was founded on December 12, 1787 when the Pennsylvania colony adopted the US Constitution. Today, Philadelphia is known as the birthplace of America because the declaration of Independence was signed in the independence hall located here.

Fast Facts  The Pennsylvanians gained their land by stealing it from Native Americans.  Pennsylvania was named after the Penn family.  Located in the middle colonies.  Founded 1682  Population during that time: 300,000 people  Religious Faiths: Amish, Catholic, Church of England, Jewish, Lutheran Moravian, Presbyterian, and Quaker. A+