History Module 2.4 William Penn's Pennsylvania

What were the Quakers’ fundamental beliefs and religious practices?

Direct inward knowledge (inner light).

No traditional churches.

No hymns, liturgy, preaching.

No sacraments.

No killing.

They were pacifists.

Why did Charles II agree to grant land to William Penn?

Penn was friends with Charles II’s younger brother the Duke of York. Charles may have wanted to get rid of the Quakers, or maybe the King owed Penn’s father money (although that wouldn’t have had the same value as how much land Penn was given). It’s more likely that it was for strategic considerations, new colony = low cost, friendly neighbors. Penn was given 45,000 square acres which is equivalent to 28 million acres.

Who was the Duke of York?

King Charles II’s younger brother.

What aspirations did William Penn have for his colony?

Wanted to establish a colony where people could practice religious and political liberty.

What is the significance of Pennsylvania’s First Frame of Government?

Gave religious freedom, free press, reserved death penalty for just two things- murder and treason.

What were the two Government duties?

To terrify evildoers and to cherish those who do well.

Proprietary Colonies:

Carolina, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Charles the 2nd granted colonies to proprietors (as a reward for loyalty or service to the Crown) who not only got the land but also received monarchial powers.

New Netherland/New Amsterdam:

Dutch colony. Four English ships sailed there and took over, was renamed New York. Lead directly to the founding to two other colonies- New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

First Frame of Government:

Men were born free. 1st constitution to provide peaceful change, religious freedom, free press, and reserved death penalty for murder and treason.

George Fox:

Founder of Quakerism in England.

1. Believed the immediacy of God’s teachings and guidance.

2. Believed special buildings were irrelevant, no ministers.

3. Christ’s teachings applicable to every aspect of life.

William Penn:

Wanted to establish a colony where people could practice religious and political freedom. Negotiated peaceful land purchases with the Indians. Great Treaty of 1682. Laid out the capital- Philadelphia himself. Encouraged women to speak out and treated them equally. Pennsylvania was ethnically diverse.

William Penn did own some slaves, which contradicts his beliefs that everyone is born free.

Mason-Dixon Line:

1767 Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon completed their surveying and that’s how the Mason-Dixon line came to be.