History of Pennsylvania

The Dutch, Swedes and the British were the early settlers in the state. William Penn founded the state for the Quakers and the state was widely known as the "Quaker State."

Early History

Before the European invasion, Pennsylvania was home to the Delaware, Susquehannock, Iroquois, Eriez, Shawnee and other American Indian Nations. The Dutch were the first to take possession of this region. By June 3, 1631, the Dutch had started up the Delmarva Peninsula by establishing the Zwaanendael Colony.
The British conquered New Netherland by October 1664. On July 21, 1667, the Peace of Breda between England, France and the Netherlands confirmed the British conquest of the region. On September 12, 1672, the Dutch re-conquered New York Colony and regions of the present day Pennsylvania. On February 9, 1674, the Treaty of Westminster ended the Third Anglo-Dutch War and restored the political situations to the Status Quo Ante Bellum. In 1681, the region of Pennsylvania was granted to William Penn, a Quaker, by King Charles II.

Revolutionary War

The state of Pennsylvania played an important role in the Declaration of Independence. After the Stamp Act was passed by the British government, delegate John Dickinson of Philadelphia wrote the Declaration of Rights and Grievances. The Founding Fathers of the United States of America met in Philadelphia in 1774, convening the first and the second Continental Congress. The Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, also in Philadelphia. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania became the second state to ratify the US Constitution on December 12, 1787. After the Revolutionary war, the General Assembly of Pennsylvania passed a land act on April 3, 1792, granting the sale and distribution of the land located in the east and west of the Allegheny River.

American Civil War

Pennsylvania provided military manpower during the American Civil War. It served as a major source of artillery guns, small arms, ammunition and food supplies. It was the site of several raids by the Confederate States Army and witnessed one of the bloodiest wars, the Battle of Gettysburg. It became widely known as the "High Water Mark of the Confederacy". Other battles fought in Pennsylvania were: the Battle of Hanover, Battle of Carlisle, Battle of Hunterstown, and the Battle of Fairfield. The first oil well of the state was dug at Titusville in 1859.

Recent history

During the Depression, the state of Pennsylvania tried to fund public works through passage of the Pennsylvania State Authority Act in 1936. The iron industry also prospered, contributing the maximum to the economy of the state. It suffered from the fall of steel and coal, but recovered in the beginning of the 1970. During this time, healthcare, retail, transportation and tourism emerged as biggest industries in the state. The commonwealth has emerged as the leading producer of chemicals and pharmaceuticals, food products, and electronic equipment.