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The Province of Pennsylvania, also known as the Pennsylvania Colony, was a British North American colony founded by William Penn, who received the land through a grant from Charles II of England in 1681. The name Pennsylvania was derived from "Penn's Woods", referring to William Penn's father Admiral Sir William Penn.
The Frame of Government of Pennsylvania was a proto-constitution for the Province of Pennsylvania, a proprietary colony granted to William Penn by Charles II of England. The Frame of Government has lasting historical importance as an important step in the development of American and world democracy .
Three generations of Penns acted as proprietors of the Province of Pennsylvania and the Lower Counties from the founding of the colony until the American Revolution removed them from power and property. William Penn was granted the new proprietary colony in 1681 by Charles II of England in payment for debts owed to Penn's father.
The Pennsylvania State Capitol. The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the bicameral state legislature composed of 253 members: the House of Representatives with 203 members, [4] and the Senate with 50 members. [5] The Speaker of the House of Representatives or their designated speaker pro tempore holds sessions of the House. The President of the ...
Prior to and during the American Civil War, Pennsylvania was a divided state. Although Pennsylvania had outlawed slavery, there were still Pennsylvanians who believed that the federal government should not interfere with the institution of slavery. One such individual was Democrat James Buchanan, the last pre-Civil War president.
In English overseas possessions established from the 17th century onwards, all land in the colonies belonged to the Crown, which held ultimate authority over their management. All English colonies were divided by the Crown via royal charters into one of three types of colony; proprietary colonies, charter colonies and Crown colonies.
Virginia, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island were founded as corporate colonies. New England's corporate colonies were virtually independent of royal authority and operated as republics where property owners elected the governor and legislators. [19] Proprietary colonies were owned and governed by individuals known as proprietors.
Thomas Holme's 1687 map of Pennsylvania. "The Welch Tract" appears to the left of center. In the late 17th century, there was significant Welsh immigration to Pennsylvania for religious and cultural reasons. In about 1681, a group of Welsh Quakers met with William Penn to secure a land grant to conduct their affairs in their language.