Pennsylvania’s Road to Revolution Background of Pennsylvania’s Frame of Government and Declaration of Independence

William Penn b1644-d1718 William Penn was the son of a wealthy, English admiral. As a young man, Penn became a Quaker. Quakers are Christians, who were not permitted to worship openly in England. Penn was jailed for his religious beliefs.

Road to Declaration Penn obtained a charter from King Charles to colonize a portion of the English holdings in America. He wanted to practice his religion openly. In 1682 Penn and other settlers traveled to America and wrote the Frame of Government, our first colonial constitution.

1682- Framework of Government Because of his own time in jail, Penn wrote passages allowing limited religious freedom in the Framework. He wrote most of the document. Adult citizens did not need to physically attend a church building every week as before. This was quite radical in 1682. Any person serving in the colony’s government, however, had to swear to be a Christian. His second principle in the Framework was democratic rule by the citizens.

Frame of Government excerpt: “Any government is free to the people under it … where the laws rule, and the people are a party to those laws, and more than this is tyranny, oligarchy, or confusion.”

Thomas Jefferson called Penn "the greatest law-giver the world has produced."

1701- Declaration of Rights In time, the colonists wanted more control over their lives. Penn resisted their demands, but in 1701 he agreed to add these rights to the Framework. This document is Pennsylvania’s Declaration of Rights.

Penn’s final principle was social equality. He made a treaty with the Lenni Lenape Native Americans in 1683 at the current site of Penn Treaty Park in Philadelphia. Because of his fair dealing, no wars occurred with the Lenape.

The three principles most important to William Penn were ?

The three principles most important to William Penn were religious freedom, democracy and social equality.

France built Fort Duquesne at beginning of the Ohio River in 1753 France built Fort Duquesne at beginning of the Ohio River in 1753. It protected their fur trade.

Foundations of Fort Duquesne at Point State Park today.

Britain Responds to Fort Duquesne British military leaders responded by sending a young Virginian, several Native American allies and a small militia to force the French from the Ohio Valley in 1754. George Washington and his men attacked Fort Duquesne but were forced to retreat.

Fort Necessity Built Washington retreated southeast and hastily built Fort Necessity, 11 miles east of Uniontown. In the Battle of the Meadow, Washington was forced to surrender after his first military campaign.

French and Indian War Begins As a result of the Battle of the Meadow, the French and Indian War began in 1754. Great Britain paid dearly in men and materials to defeat the French. Fort Duquesne was renamed Fort _?_ in honor of a British Government official. Great Britain then sought repayment from English colonists for this war. In addition the British needed more money to govern the Ohio Valley.

Stamp and Tea Taxes Imposed Parliament and King John imposed taxes upon colonists including the Stamp Act in 1765 and later the Tea Tax. Colonists resisted paying these taxes. They claimed the rights of Englishmen to “no taxation without representation” in Parliament in London.

Boston Tea Party 1773

Intolerable or Townsend Acts Passed. The December, 1773 Boston Tea Party caused the Intolerable Acts of 1774 which closed the Port of Boston, suspended jury trial rights in Boston and closed the Massachusetts legislature. First Continental Congress called for representatives from all colonies in fall, 1774. It tried to work out problems with King and Parliament. Boycott of British goods began.

One if by land, Two if by sea! British troops seized colonial weapons and militia at Lexington and Concord in April, 1775. Second Continental Congress met in May, 1775 in Philadelphia. It sent written request to King and Parliament to solve problems peaceably.

Pennsylvania’s Colonial State House 1775

Colonial Delegates form Second Continental Congress, July, 1776 Second Continental Congress remained in session. Declaration of Independence signed in July, 1776. Page 106. Section one all men equal, natural rights, social contract and right to rebel Section two laundry list of complaints against British king Section three American sovereignty; “free and independent states”

Principles of 1776 Declaration of Independence

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal….” Equality

“…they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Liberty

“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” Democracy

“That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government….” Justice