Pennsylvania, The Quaker State By The Northern Rose

Before the 1600's there were several tribes living in the future Pennsylvania area. These tribes were the Algonquian, Iroquoian, and Siouan tribes (many would later break into several different tribes). When the Europeans first came over to settle the colonies, both the Dutch and English claimed both sides of the Delaware River.

By 1631, the Dutch began settling the Delmarva Peninsula and established the Zwaanendael Colony. In 1638, Sweden established the colony of New Sweden. For many years the Dutch and Swedish were the only ones in control of the area, with little dispute. Unfortunately, in March of 1662, King Charles II of England gave the Duke of York a grant that incorporated all lands included in the original Virginia Company of Plymouth Grant and other lands. This grant conflicted with the Dutch claim to New Netherlands for each included parts of Pennsylvania. The British conquest of New Netherland began in late August of 1664 and was over before October was completed.

On February 28, 1681, Charles II granted a land charted to William Penn in order to pay a large debt he owed Penn's father, Admiral William Penn. The land was named Pennsylvania, which literally means "Penn's Woods" in Latin. The Penn family did not like this name because they did not want the people living on the land to think that they thought too highly of themselves that they would name the land in such a way. The king would not change it. Penn established a new government within his colony. There were two newer innovations that he added to his colonies government (that the founding fathers would later be inspired by), these were religious freedom and the county commission.

Pennsylvania was considered the middle of the thirteen colonies, which made Philadelphia the perfect meeting spot for the First Continental Congress. Although the argument over who the most important delegate from the state could be a long and drawn out one, lets just say that both Benjamin Franklin and John Dickinson were very important. Dickinson had written the Declaration of Rights and Grievances after the Stamp Act Congress of 1765. He was also the primary author of the Articles of Confederation. Unfortunately, the Articles would not be successful and the Constitutional Convention was held.

Pennsylvania became the second state within the United States of America when they ratified the Constitution in December of 1787. Also, between 1790 and 1800 Philly would serve as the temporary national capital while the District of Colombia was being constructed.
Today, Pennsylvania is the thirty-third largest state and the sixth most populated.

By The Northern Rose