Pennsylvania
Springfield Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Founded 1681 by William Penn as a Quaker Commonwealth. Birthplace of THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE and THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
William Penn founded Pennsylvania in 1681 as a Quaker commonwealth built on religious tolerance and self-government, an experiment that drew settlers of many faiths to the Delaware Valley. Within a century that colony became the setting where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States were written. This state-line marker greets travelers with that founding heritage.
Why it matters
Pennsylvania was both a bold colonial experiment in liberty of conscience and the birthplace of the documents that founded the nation.
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Related people
- ยท William Penn
Related events
- ยท Founding of Pennsylvania
Themes & tags
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