Notes on Early Pennsylvania History

Notes on early Pennsylvania history

(from blue Pennsylvania textbook)

~Native Americans settled in the land we now call Pennsylvania (p.86-90)

~lots of hunting and fishing

~Lenni Lenape

~Shawnee

~Iroquois

~Susquehannock

~In the early 1600s, European explorers first visited the land we now call PA (p.98-101)

~explorers recorded their descriptions of PA in journals

~when Europeans found out how many resources the land had, many more came

~New Sweden was the first European settlement in what is now PA (p.104-107)

~1638: Sweden established a new colony along Delaware River called New Sweden

~they built houses, grew crops, and traded with the Native Americans

~New Netherland, a Dutch colony near New Sweden, captured and took control of New Sweden

~Dutch were now in control

~Meanwhile, England claimed the Southeast part of PA

~William Penn created a new colony for people who wanted freedom to worship as they pleased (p.126-132)

~1644: William Penn born in England

~left church and joined Society of Friends (Quakers)

~Quakers believe all are created equal, as well as in peace / no fighting

~Charter of 1681: to repay a debt to Penn's father, King Charles II agreed to (1) give land (now PA) to William Penn to start a colony for religious freedom and (2) allow William to write the laws for the colony

~Penn wrote First Frame of Government (PA's first constitution), which established freedom of religion

~Penn wrote the Great Law, which made sure that people had a voice in their government

~Penn's new colony was called Pennsylvania (Penn's woods)

~Penn formed Philadelphia (City of Brotherly Love) using streets that formed checkerboard pattern

~3 counties: (1) Philadelphia County, (2) Bucks County (for Buckinghamshire in England - Penn's home), and (3) Chester County (for Chestershire in England)

~about 100 Quakers came in 1682 as colonists

~later, many people from different countries and different religions came for religious and economic opportunities

~Penn wanted the colonists to live peacefully with the Native Americans, along with the Swedish and Dutch colonies, so he set up treaties with them

~1701: Penn wrote the Charter of Privileges, which extended the rights of the colonists and gave them more control over their government

~As the colony grew, troubles arose between Native Americans and Pennsylvanians (p.138-141)

~1712: William Penn becomes ill; wife Hannah Callowhill Penn takes over as Governor

~1718: William dies

~1726: Hannah dies

~1727: sons John and Thomas take over. They want more land, but don't share their parents' Quaker philosophy of being fair to Indians.

~land deal to be measured in Lenape way (as far as a man can walk in a day and a half)

~Penn's sons cheated by using 3 men instead of 1, and they ran instead of walked

~they got 3 times as much land as they should have

~became known in history as The Walking Purchase

~ended the peace and trust between Native Americans and Pennsylvanians