Synopsis
Relates the history of the Colony of Pennsylvania from its founding by William Penn in 1681 to statehood in 1787.
Greg M. Romaneck - Children's Literature
Among the original thirteen colonies Pennsylvania stands out as having a unique origin. Founded by William Penn, a Quaker, Pennsylvania was grounded upon principles of tolerance that colored its early history. William Penn's influence on the original charter and governance of the colony was marked by unusually fair treatment of Native Americans and non-British settlers. Over time this even-handed approach faded away and the exploitation of original residents became quite common. However, it is important to realize that, under Penn, this colony was operated from a much more equitable stance than other regions of the New World. In The Pennsylvania Colony Jean Kinney Williams presents the history of that state from the pre-colonial era up to the establishment of the United States Constitution at the close of the 18th century. This book is part of a larger series entitled "Our Thirteen Colonies." Like other books in this series this selection combines numerous illustrations with a text that follows a set format. The narrative touches upon Native American customs prior to colonization, early governance of the area by settlers, the movement toward revolution, major events of the Revolutionary War, and the establishment of the Constitution and statehood. Throughout the book author Williams includes anecdotes that amplify the somewhat sparse text. Taken as a whole, this book is representative of the broader series and is a workable place to start introducing younger readers to the history of the Pennsylvania Colony. 2004, The Child's World, Ages 8 to 10.
Editorials
Children's Literature
Among the original thirteen colonies Pennsylvania stands out as having a unique origin. Founded by William Penn, a Quaker, Pennsylvania was grounded upon principles of tolerance that colored its early history. William Penn's influence on the original charter and governance of the colony was marked by unusually fair treatment of Native Americans and non-British settlers. Over time this even-handed approach faded away and the exploitation of original residents became quite common. However, it is important to realize that, under Penn, this colony was operated from a much more equitable stance than other regions of the New World. In The Pennsylvania Colony Jean Kinney Williams presents the history of that state from the pre-colonial era up to the establishment of the United States Constitution at the close of the 18th century. This book is part of a larger series entitled "Our Thirteen Colonies." Like other books in this series this selection combines numerous illustrations with a text that follows a set format. The narrative touches upon Native American customs prior to colonization, early governance of the area by settlers, the movement toward revolution, major events of the Revolutionary War, and the establishment of the Constitution and statehood. Throughout the book author Williams includes anecdotes that amplify the somewhat sparse text. Taken as a whole, this book is representative of the broader series and is a workable place to start introducing younger readers to the history of the Pennsylvania Colony. 2004, The Child's World, Ages 8 to 10.— Greg M. Romaneck