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The Life of William Penn
William Penn, most commonly known for the establishment of the state of Pennsylvania, could also be referred to as the first great pioneer of American liberty. His beliefs on equal rights and religious toleration not only contributed to liberty in the Old World, but in the New World as well. In a time when religions persecuted one another for their beliefs, colonists were stealing land from Indians, and women had little to no rights, Penn established a sanctuary free from the stereotypes that were common in that time in history. Founded by William Penn, Pennsylvania, and the eventual city of Philadelphia, will continue to bear the marks of the advancement of religious tolerance still witnessed by society today.
William Penn was born October 14, 1644 in London, England and spent most of his youth in that general vicinity. He was the oldest of three children, having a younger brother and a younger sister. “As the eldest son, Penn followed the usual path as heir to his father’s estates. Thus he was educated in the typical manner of the gentry, being sent to a private school and later to a university” (Geiter, 14). After being homeschooled until the age of 11, he began his formal training at Chigwell Academy near Wanstead in Essex, England. Penn attended several colleges throughout Europe including Oxford University and Lincoln’s Inn, a prestigious law school in London. William Penn’s education and law background helped round out his skills and prepare him to take his place in society. His eventual conversion to Quakerism, however, prevented him from entering a political career as expected by his family. “While Penn did not follow the traditional route, by becoming, for example, a member of parliament, he d...
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...eiter, Mary K. William Penn. Harlow, England: Longman, 2000. 14, 167. Print.
Powell, Jim. "William Penn, America's First Great Champion for Liberty and Peace." Quaker.org. The Freeman. Web. 1 Mar. 2012.
Patton, Allyson. "Brotherly Love Comes To Philadelphia." British Heritage 26.6 (2006): 43-48. MasterFILE Premier. Jstor. 20 Mar. 2012.
Foster, Genevieve. The World of William Penn. New York: Scribner, 1973. 32. Print.
Geiter, Mary K., and W. A. Speck. Colonial America: From Jamestown to Yorktown. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2002. 97. Print.
William Penn Biography. N.p., 3 Dec. 2007. Web. 20 Mar. 2012. .
Lingelbach, William E. “William Penn and City Planning.” The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography , Vol. 68, No. 4 (Oct.,1944): 401. MasterFILE Premier. Jstor. 20 Mar. 2012.
Unlike Winthrop who called for shared cooperation, Penn upheld liberty of conscience and affirmed that no entity has the authority to rule over one’s consciousness. Specifically writing the law, “That, in all courts all persons of all persuasions may freely appear in their own way, and according to their own manners and there personally plead their own cause themselves” (Frame of Government of Pennsylvania). Certainly, he understood the individual’s right to his own thinking, even going as far as entrusting them to advocate for themselves in the court of law. Further, religious liberty also took root in
Have you ever wondered whose hands our country was in at the start of our time? Captain John Smith was one of the first American heroes. He was the first man to promote a permanent settlement of America. William Bradford was a Puritan who was courageous and determined to set up a colony where citizens could worship freely. Although both of these men were two of America’s heroes, they had more differences than known.
Thomas Hancock lived in Hancock Manor in Boston where he had no children he was a privateer and a merchant. John enrolled in Harvard University, received his bachelor’s...
Edward, Rebecca and Henretta, James and Self, Robert. America A Concise History. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin’s, 2012.
Henretta, James A. and David Brody. America: A Concise History, Volume I: To 1877. 4th ed. Boston:
The next year, he crossed the Atlantic and framed the government for Pennsylvania, in which he applied his doctrine of religious freedom. He intended it to be a holy experiment, a model that could be applied to nations around the world. The Frame of Government stated that everyone who believed in God and did not disturb the peace would “in no ways, be molested or prejudiced for their religious persuasion, or practice, in matters of faith and worship, nor shall they be compelled, at any time, to frequent or maintain any religious worship, place or ministry whatever.” The focus for Penn was to guarantee the people of Pennsylvania the right worship God in whatever manner each individual felt was most fitting.
Hickey, Andrew S. The story of Kingston, First Capital of New York State 1609-1952: New York, Stratford House, 1952
William Penn was born in England and belonged to a wealthy family “possessed of wealth and status, which gave him almost immediate access to the halls of power in Restoration, England” (Moretta xii). I personally believe that the importance of status and wealth must have played a gigantic role in Penn’s life and his career. He lived a simple life and wanted the good of others, but knowing the status of your family would’ve generated something in his mind. He was a social individual and was liked by his peers until he was caught attending a Quakers meeting and arrested. His father left him homeless at the age of twenty-two and he started residing with the Quakers. He had to struggle in his early twenties but as they say; “with no struggle there is no inspiration.” He knew the consequences of attending the meetings but the interest kept him going. I believe this is when Penn realized the important things in his life and started to prioritize things that meant something to him.
Often when looking at American history, people tend to lump all the characters and actors involved as similar. This is especially the case in regards to Early American Colonial history. Because the Puritan communities that grew rapidly after John Winthrop’s arrival in 1630 often overshadow the earlier colony at Plymouth, many are lead to assume that all settlers acted in similar ways with regard to land use, religion, and law. By analyzing the writings of William Bradford and John Winthrop, one begins to see differing pictures of colonization in New England.
Roark, James L. et al., eds. The American Promise: A Compact, Vol. I: To 1877. 3rd edition. Boston and New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2007.
John Dickinson was a politician from Maryland who was born in a wealthy family, but took on the character of a farmer to connect and relate to the colonists. He said, in his first letter, “If the Parliament may lawfully deprive New York of any of her rights, it may deprive any or all the other colonies of their rights; and nothing can possibly so much encourage such attempts as a mutual inattention to the interests of each other. To divide, and thus to destroy, is the first political maxim in attacking those who are powerful by their union.” John Dickinson, known later as the “penman of the Revolution” used this tactic successfully to stimulate the people to take an active stance and fight for the betterment of
William Penn, an English entrepreneur, had an unforeseen impact on the history of the United States of America. In the late 1600’s and early 1700’s, Penn was already a champion for democracy, religious freedom, and anti-slavery movements. Through his good relations both the nobility of England, and the Indians of Pennsylvania, Penn was able to secure an entire state for many years to come. Credited with establishing the city of Philadelphia, name after his ideal of ‘brotherly love’, William Penn left a lasting impression on the United States of America. He was one of the first to propose a unification of the American English colonies into one State. Though he is not often remembered today, Penn is often honored as a man ahead of his time. French philosopher Voltaire credited many times, saying:
American history began as a result of the actions and decisions of the leaders in the colonies who represented the constituents and their beliefs. These leaders fought vigorously for the right to do what they thought best for their country. This powerful belief led them into a clouded battle field that they came out of victorious. Many of these leaders were commanders, diplomats, rich upperclassmen, but they were also the embodiment of the people and what they desired. One of these men in specific, guided the Americans to-be through the
William Penn - English Quaker who founded Pennsylvania in 1681. Pennsylvania was heavily advertised. He was not well liked due to his friendliness towards James II.
It is an undisputable fact that the contribution of such prominent philosophers, writers, political and social activists as Benjamin Franklin and Henry David Thoreau in developing American statehood is tremendous. The literary works of both men can serve as a manifesto of national and personal liberation, a call for building a better society, where each citizen can live and work freely. Indeed, both Henry Thoreau and Benjamin Franklin emphasize the independence and freedom of an individual, but they do so in significantly different ways. These differences can be linked to their different worldview, life positions, philosophies, or interests. Nevertheless, this fact cannot detract from the obvious uniqueness and importance of Thoreau’s and Franklin’s literary heritage.