Current location - Education and Training Encyclopedia - University ranking - University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
William penn (william penn1644.10-1718) was an important politician, social activist and pioneer in the colonial period of North America. He was also a major supporter of Quakers and a religious reformer.

William penn 1643 was born in London, England. His father is the famous Royal Admiral Sir Payne. Admiral Payne once seized Jamaica from the Spanish in 1654, and his illustrious family background made william penn stand out from the crowd at an early age. William penn's rebellious character made him refuse to accept the rules of the Anglican Church when he was 18 years old, so he was expelled from Oxford University. At the age of 23, he converted to Quaker, a sect opposed by Protestants and Puritans at that time.

Quaker Society was founded by george fox in England in the middle of17th century, and its purpose and proposition are quite radical. They pursue a more just society and a pure church, despise tradition and authority and advocate utopian equality and harmony. This Sect was persecuted and expelled in Britain. William penn was sent to the Tower of London four times for publicly expressing his faith. 1670 after his father's death, william penn inherited the family business and went to court frequently, trying to persuade King charles ii to accept religious freedom. However, after many failures, william penn and Quakers turned their eyes to the new world, hoping to create a brand-new social system and model for mankind in this brand-new land.

1674, william penn and other Quakers came to the North American colony. He bought a piece of land from an owner in New Jersey as his residence. This land was named "Jersey", which is the embryonic form of Pennsylvania today. Here, william penn began to practice his ideas and ideals. He gives almost all free people the right to choose and decide, and ensures that immigrants enjoy religious freedom and participate in jury trials. His famous saying is "We leave the decision to the people".

168 1 year, william penn ushered in the most important moment in his life: King charles ii of England gave him a piece of land the size of England. This land became Pennsylvania. The reason why the king did this was mainly to pay off the huge royal debt of16,000 pounds owed to the Payne family, and also to make charles ii feel more relaxed about the annoying Quakers staying away from England. As a result, Payne got the last undistributed and most fertile land on the east coast of North America.

William penn conceived his brand-new colonial social plan after obtaining the royal permission of Pennsylvania. He imagined that this perfect colony should be a refuge for all persecuted people and a refuge from tyranny. William penn warmly invited more people from different religions and ethnic backgrounds to his jungle colony, and promised that his * * * would never override the will of citizens, and did not even ask for military service.

Since 682, Quaker members have come to Pennsylvania in large numbers, and immigrants from the Netherlands, Finland and Sweden have also been absorbed here. William penn generously gave them land at a reasonable price. Unlike most North American colonists, william penn is one of the few political leaders who respect the local indigenous people. When the Pennsylvania colony was established, william penn established friendly relations with the Delaware tribe in the colony. In a letter to tribal chiefs, william penn promised to live in harmony with Indians, respect their land rights and protect free trade.

William penn's democratic, open and inclusive colonial policy in Pennsylvania became the most maverick "alternative" in the North American continent. In just over 20 years after the establishment of the colony, the population has increased to 20,000. During the same period, South Carolina only increased to 4,000. William penn's pacifism also absorbed a large number of fleeing Indians, who came from all directions. In addition, immigrants from Germany and Ireland-Scotland expanded Pennsylvania to more than 30,000 people in 1720. /kloc-In 0/700, the population of Philadelphia, the colonial capital of Pennsylvania, surpassed that of new york, and it will become the largest city in the United States in a few decades, and it will also be the signing place of the Declaration of Independence.

William penn devoted his life to the establishment and development of new colonies. He returned to England in 1684, and then visited the colonies several times in succession. He planned the colony more conceptually than directly, because "ruling" was contrary to his original intention. 17 18, the idealist and perfectionist died in London.

evaluate

William penn is a major figure in the colonial history of North America, and most people appreciate his thoughts of pacifism, equality, freedom and justice. The colony he developed and planned later developed into an important Pennsylvania in the United States. William penn is an idealist and a perfectionist. Although some of his ideas are difficult to realize in reality, his democratic thought and practice provide reference for the independence of North America and the establishment of the country, society and constitution. Similarly, william penn was one of the few colonial leaders who treated Indian natives well and firmly pursued the open policy. Under his spirit, Pennsylvania, which contains various religions, nationalities and races, laid the foundation for the pluralism that will soon become the characteristics of American society.

He surpassed the ideal of democracy and freedom bound by the times and eventually became immortal knowledge in this vast land.