Government
Pennsylvania was founded on democratic principles. William Penn, who started the colony, promised settlers freedom of religion, representative government, and jury trials. He set out these promises in the colony's first constitution, called the Frame of Government. In 1701, Penn wrote the Charter of Privileges, which gave the people more control of the colony
African Americans
Despite Quaker opposition to slavery, about 4,000 slaves were brought to Pennsylvania by 1730, most of them owned by English, Welsh, and Scotch-Irish colonists. The census of 1790 showed that the number of African-Americans had increased to about 10,000, of whom about 6,300 had received their freedom. The Pennsylvania Gradual Abolition Act of 1780 was the first emancipation statute in the United States.
Economy
Most German settlers were farmers, many newcomers worked as bakers, carpenters, barrel makers, tailors, and black smiths. In 1683 the skilled craftsmen set up their shops. The farmers would exchange their livestock and produce for the tradesmen's goods. As the colony grew, its citizens no longer had to buy goods from England or the West indies. Instead, they could buy or barter for most of what they needed from neighbors and local townspeople. There was also many natural resources. There was plenty of good land for planting wheat, a crop that needs many acres to grow. The iron business was very successful. As a result, people in England worried that the iron plantations would take business away from the British iron industry.
Native Americans
The tribal name Lenni-Lenape means "original people." The Europeans called the tribal the Delaware Indians, using the European name given to the bay and river. Settlers often chose their own names to use instead of Native names, probably because they found their European words easier to pronounce.
The Lenni-Lenape continued to live their traditional ways, despite their new European neighbors.
The Lenni-Lenape continued to live their traditional ways, despite their new European neighbors.
Clothing
Toddlers had to wear a brace around them to make them sit up strait. Women held young children in bags. And both boys and girls were dressed in a long gown and cap until they were five or six years old.
The boys clothing consisted of stockings, garters, doublet, brown shoes, points and hats. Boys always tucked in their shirts. The men wore robes, and felt hats. Men wore tights, too.
Girls wore skirts or a dress and usually a hat. Under their skirts they wore three petticoats, stockings, garters, and a waistcoat. They wore a hat called a coif, an apron and then their shoes. Girls and women wore bonnets.
During colonial times, women wore black or drab colored clothes. At a wedding, the bride sometimes wore yellow. However, white was the preferred coloring because it symbolized purity. During the wedding festivities, the men would try to take the bride’s shoe. Women liked to wear their hair up. They wore a corset under their dress to make them look skinnier. Women wore long coats with hoods in the rain. When women had their hands full they carried their baskets on their heads.
During colonial times clothing was passed down from sibling to sibling and was washed on a washboard by hand and hung out to dry. Also, clothes were handmade. They wore drab colors because it was expensive and difficult to attain pretty fabrics for clothes. Also, many religious groups believed that bright colors drew unwanted attention to women.
The boys clothing consisted of stockings, garters, doublet, brown shoes, points and hats. Boys always tucked in their shirts. The men wore robes, and felt hats. Men wore tights, too.
Girls wore skirts or a dress and usually a hat. Under their skirts they wore three petticoats, stockings, garters, and a waistcoat. They wore a hat called a coif, an apron and then their shoes. Girls and women wore bonnets.
During colonial times, women wore black or drab colored clothes. At a wedding, the bride sometimes wore yellow. However, white was the preferred coloring because it symbolized purity. During the wedding festivities, the men would try to take the bride’s shoe. Women liked to wear their hair up. They wore a corset under their dress to make them look skinnier. Women wore long coats with hoods in the rain. When women had their hands full they carried their baskets on their heads.
During colonial times clothing was passed down from sibling to sibling and was washed on a washboard by hand and hung out to dry. Also, clothes were handmade. They wore drab colors because it was expensive and difficult to attain pretty fabrics for clothes. Also, many religious groups believed that bright colors drew unwanted attention to women.
Foods
Women did most of the cooking in colonial Pennsylvania, while the men worked. German settlers cooked noodle dumplings, pretzels, coffee cakes, and pies. These were all German traditons. But what everyone ate most was corn. Corn was what a poor family would live on. They made almost everything out of corn and roasted corn. Cooking was very important in their every day lives. The Dutch presereved crops before winter. They preserved fruit by slicing them into wedged shape pieces and preserved them. The most famous Dutch dish was schnitz (dried fruit). The Dutch in the worst weather could still make good tasting food.
Religion
Many religions in Pennsylvania include Quakers, Lutheran, Reformed, Monnenites, Amish, Baptist Brethren, Church of England, Catholic, Pesbyterian, Jewish, Schwenkfelders, Moravians, Methodist, and, Prodestant.
Protestants expanded with the arrival of Henry M. Muhlenberg in 1742. Reform expanded on the arrival of Michael Schlatter in 1746. Moravian did missionary work with Indians, and had services as early as 1698. Catholics in 1720 and built a chapel in 1733. Church of England had services as early as 1695, Presbyterians had services in 1698. The first Jewish synagogue was built in 1740 with Mikveh Israel Congregation.
Protestants expanded with the arrival of Henry M. Muhlenberg in 1742. Reform expanded on the arrival of Michael Schlatter in 1746. Moravian did missionary work with Indians, and had services as early as 1698. Catholics in 1720 and built a chapel in 1733. Church of England had services as early as 1695, Presbyterians had services in 1698. The first Jewish synagogue was built in 1740 with Mikveh Israel Congregation.
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