Founder

Pennsylvania was founded in 1681 when King II granted a charter to William Penn for the establishment of a new colony between Maryland and New York. The king had two reasons for granting Penn's request; first, he could repay a large debt that he owed to Penn's father, and second, he could get rid of William, who had been thorn in the king's side for several years. The colony was named Pennsylvania in honor of Penn's father, Admiral William Penn. William Penn was part of the Quakers, who believed in a simple lifestyle and in treating all people equally. Later, the Quakers became prominent in the fight to end enslavement and to increase women's rights. Pennsylvania grew quickly due to Penn's skills at marketing the colony, his commitment to diversity, and his willingness to make business deals with the Indian tribes to acquire land.