Pennsylvania

= Pennsylvania  = Settlement occurred in Pennsylvania as early as 1642, by Swedish, Dutch, and English settlers. The first permanent settlement in Pennsylvania was at **Tinicum**, settled by the Swedish in 1643. The English conquered the territory.

The land of Pennsylvania was given to William Penn in 1681, however. That is when it become an official colony. The King of England was in debt to his dead father, and gave him a land grant. He signed the Charter of Pennsylvania on March 4, 1681 and it was officially proclaimed on April 2nd.

Penn made his cousin, William Markham, the deputy governer of the province. He was sent to take control. Back in England, Penn came up with and proposed a constitution for the colony. He drew up the //First Frame of Government//. Penn believe in his **Quaker** ideals of peace, equality, and justice. He saw his colony as a place and opportunity to put his beliefs to work. **His colony offered freedom of religion. This interested many people and many people came and settled in the colony.**

It was a **proprietary colony**. A proprietary colony is any early North American colony that was granted by the English Crown to one or more proprietors with full governing rights.

The main economic activity in the colony was **subsistence farming, lumbering, ship building, and raising hemp and tobacco for export.**

The present day capital of Pennsylvania is **Harrisburg, PA.**





