History of Pennsylvania

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Map of the Province of Pennsylvania (1681–1776).

Before Europeans settled what is now Pennsylvania , the region around the Delaware River was already home to Indian tribes such as the Delaware (also known as Lenni Lenape ), Susquehannock , Iroquois and Shawnee . inhabited.

Dutch settlers influence

Before the actual settlement by Europeans, both England and Holland claimed the area around the Delaware . England assigned the area to the colony of Virginia, which was already under construction; Holland and the Dutch West India Company claimed the area to establish trade bases. The Dutch West India Company worked with Sweden and Finland to attract settlers to the area.

In June 1631 the Dutch began to establish their first own colony, Zwaanendael Colony, (now Lewes (Delaware) ). In 1638 the Swedes founded another colony with the central Fort Christina, which they called New Sweden . Today's city of Wilmington (Delaware) emerged from the former Fort Christina .

Influence of English and German settlers

Three pence colonial currency from 1764, signed by Thomas Wharton

On March 4, 1681, the English King Charles II transferred the piece of land the size of present-day Pennsylvania to William Penn . Charles II thus paid a debt of 16,000 pounds sterling to Penn's father, William Penn Sr., which he was unable to repay. W. Penn immediately began building a new colony to provide a place for the Quaker denomination to practice their religion freely. Because of later laws passed by Penn, this religious freedom also applied to other Christian groups. The name of the Pennsylvania colony consists of the family names "Penn" and "Sylvania" (Latin silva "forest" or Silvanus , a forest deity).

Shortly after W. Penn released the area, many Quakers, mainly from Wales , settled in the area north and west of present-day Philadelphia . The Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware counties, which still exist today, were established.

Since W. Penn guaranteed free religious practice for every settler, a large influx of German (e.g. Mennonites and Amish ) and Scottish-Irish settlers began. Penn also tried to gain access to the Atlantic . The Quakers were known to oppose all forms of violence and to deal fairly with the Indian tribes. Land was bought from the Indians and Indians were included in deliberations; there were even Indians who were placed on the jury .

When the colony got bigger and bigger from England, there were first conflicts between the British Army and Indian tribes, especially in western Pennsylvania. This area was still largely uninhabited, and both Indian tribes and France wanted to prevent further colonization by England. During this period, French colonies stretched from what is now Québec to the Gulf of Mexico (now Louisiana ). This area roughly encompassed the Midwestern region of what is now the United States .

The conflict with England led to the Seven Years' War in North America in 1754 (Indian tribes and France against England). Most acts of war ceased in mid-1760. After the end of the war, France claimed all areas from the Mississippi River to the west, all areas to the east (including the entire area of ​​today's Pennsylvania) went to England. The Seven Years War put a heavy burden on the British treasury. In view of the high national debt, the London Parliament saw it as inevitable that the colonists contributed part of the maintenance of the troops sent to their protection. The following tax increases in the colonies were also rejected by the Pennsylvania residents. Pennsylvania figures like Benjamin Franklin were also involved in the subsequent United States Declaration of Independence . In 1780 Pennsylvania passed the Abolition of Slavery Act. In 1847 the last slave in Pennsylvania was released.

During the American Civil War , Pennsylvania was the scene of many skirmishes and battles (e.g. Gettysburg ). 360,000 Pennsylvania soldiers served in the Union Army . The Mason-Dixon Line ran through what is now southern Pennsylvania.

Influence of different immigrant groups

In the following years, millions of other immigrants immigrated to Pennsylvania. Irish and Germans made up the largest group. Many worked in the mines and the emerging steel industry. The economic difficulties that followed in the early 19th century hit Pennsylvania and its industry hard. The situation only eased when the USA entered World War II . Almost 10 percent of all military equipment was made in Pennsylvania.

From the 1960s onwards, mostly Asian and Latin American immigrants came to Pennsylvania. At the end of the last century there was a sharp increase in the number of Eastern European immigrants, especially from Russia and Ukraine .

Pennsylvania is still in a state of economic change. Heavy industry is disappearing more and more, IT and service companies are emerging.

Web links

literature

  • Philip S. Klein and Ari Hoogenboom: A history of Pennsylvania . (2nd expanded edition). Pennsylvania State University, University Park 1980, ISBN 0-271-01934-4 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Edited by John K. Wright Paullin, Charles O: Atlas of the Historical Geography of the United States ( English ). Carnegie Institution of Washington and American Geographical Society , New York, New York and Washington, DC: 19932, p. Plate 42.
  2. ^ William F., Editor Swindler: Sources and Documents of United States Constitutions. 10 volumes ( English ). Oceana Publications , Dobbs Ferry, New York 1973-1979, pp. Vol. 10: 17-23.
  3. ^ John A. Munroe: Colonial Delaware: A History. ( English ). KTO Press, Millwood, New York 1978, pp. 9-12.