HOW PENNSYLVANIA WAS FOUNDED PART of New Jersey was ruled by a class of people called the Quakers. The Quakers were very much persecuted in England. They were punished for refusing to show reverence to the king by removing their hats in his presence. They were persecuted because they preached their doctrines whenever they found an opportunity. They were also persecuted in some of the American colonies as well as in England. One of the few men who did much for these despised Quakers was William Penn. He was the son of an English naval officer. While yet in college, William Penn was converted to the Quaker belief. After the death of Penn's father, he found himself owner of a part of New Jersey. There were many Quakers here, but Penn thought he would like to found a colony where he could have entire control. The king of England was greatly in debt to Penn's father, so Penn asked the king for a grant of land in America. The king was glad to pay his debt in such a way. He gave Penn the land that is now called Pennsylvania. Penn carried out many of his own ideas in planning Pennsylvania. He purchased more land from the Swedes. Here he planned and laid out the city of Philadelphia. This was to be the "city of brotherly love, the city of refuge, the mansion of freedom, the home of humanity." Penn became very friendly with the In dians. He at once brought about a meeting with them, in which a treaty of friendship was arranged. A large elm tree at Shackamaxon, not far from the center of the new city, was chosen as the place for the meeting. Here Penn made a speech. He said, "I will not call you children, for parents sometimes chide their children too severely; nor brothers only, for brothers differ. We are the same as if one man's body were to be divided into two parts; we are all one flesh C |