The American Vision

Chapter 2: Colonizing America, 1519–1733

Web Lesson Plans

Introduction
Students have read about the English settlement of the Middle Colonies during the 17th century. In this activity students will research William Penn and the government he established in Pennsylvania.

Lesson Description
Students will use information from the William Penn Web site to learn about William Penn and the establishment of Pennsylvania. Students will read about the early life of Penn, his desire to establish a tolerant government, the creation of Pennsylvania's provincial Assembly and the Charter of Privileges, and the success of the colony. Students will then answer four questions and apply this information by creating a poster that advertises Pennsylvania for settlement.

1. Students will identify William Penn and examine the principles upon which he established the government of Pennsylvania, one of the Middle Colonies.
2. Students will be able to use this knowledge to create a poster that advertises Pennsylvania for settlement.

1. Penn respected the Native Americans who inhabited the Pennsylvania territories. Even though the King had granted him a charter to the area, Penn was careful to purchase the land from the Native Americans. This set a precedent for peaceful negotiations between Native Americans and Pennsylvanians.
2. The Assembly passed laws protecting the freedom of conscience, or freedom of religion. Additionally, in a time when death was an acceptable punishment for many crimes, the Assembly established only two crimes as punishable by death—murder and treason.
3. Pennsylvania was exporting lumber, furs, hemp, tobacco, iron, and copper in exchange for high-quality British goods. The population was growing so fast that Penn purchased more land along the Susquehanna River, and the Pennsylvanians lived peacefully with nearby Native Americans. Philadelphia, Penn's beloved city, was second only to Boston in population.
4. During Penn's second stay in the colony, the colony adopted the Charter of Privileges. This constitution provided that the elected Assembly had the power to initiate bills rather than simply approve or reject those submitted to it by the governor. The Charter was important because it was a step toward self-government in America.
5. Students' posters will vary.