William Penn

William Penn founded the State of Pennsylvania. The democratic principles that he believed in served as an inspiration for the United States Constitution. Although born in a well-to-do English family, Penn joined the Religious Society of Quakers at the age of 22 and headed for america.

Penn was a well educated men who wrote the Pennsylvania constitution in 1677. Penn formed the settlement in North America to escape the religious persecution the Quakers recieved. Penn was a believer in freedom of religion, free elections and the right to a fair trial by a jury.

The King of England gave William Penn the land becuase he owed Penn family money from a loan his father made. Pennsylvania was orginal called Sylvania which ment woods by Willaim. But the King made him change it to Pennsylvania out of respect for Williams father.

Local Links:

• www.quaker.org: Find a bio on William Penn
• www.williampenn.org