The Pennsylvania Colony (Colonial America)

This lecture is a brief introduction to the early history of the Pennsylvania Colony. The Pennsylvania Colony was founded in 1681 by William Penn, a Quaker convert who converted a debt owed to his family by the king into a charter for a proprietary colony. In keeping with Quaker principles, Penn's Frame of Government established complete religious toleration in the colony - a policy ahead of its time when even Christian toleration seemed lenient. Penn made treaties with local Indian tribes in order to get them to vacate the land around Philadelphia voluntarily, which was a rare measure of humanity during this time period. The Pennsylvania Colony's economy, based on growing staple crops, was typical for the Middle Colonies.