Other
Religious Society of Friends: Willliam Penn: First Great Champion for Liberty
Abridged biography of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania responsible for establishing the notion of freedom of conscience in America.
Ancestry
Notable Women Ancestors: Mary Barrett Dyer
Very detailed biography of Mary Dyer, a Quaker who was hanged for her faith in 1660.
Huntington Library
Huntington Library: Pennsylvania Colony: The Holy Experiment [Pdf]
In this activity, 5th graders learn about the people who founded the Pennsylvania colony and the role that religion played in shaping it. Includes background information for the teacher. Students explore primary resource readings on the...
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: William Penn
The Library of Congress presents this brief biography of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania. Provides photographs of his home and church, as well as a portrait of this famous Quaker.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Teacher Serve: Religious Pluralism in the Middle Colonies
Essay looks at the phenomenon of religious pluralism in the middle colonies. Author discusses religious sects in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, as well as African Americans and Native Americans.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Middle Colonies
Society in the middle colonies was far more varied, cosmopolitan and tolerant than in New England. In many ways, Pennsylvania and Delaware owed their initial success to William Penn.
Digital History
Digital History: Slavery's Evolution
From the 1740s until 1860 there were great changes in the slavery system, slave culture, and where slaves lived. Read about these changes and the beginnings of anti-slavery ideas.
Digital History
Digital History: The Middle Colonies: William Penn's Holy Commonwealth
The Quakers were persecuted in England and in many English colonies. Read about William Penn's establishment of the colony of Pennsylvania where Quakers and others could live with religious liberty.
Digital History
Digital History: The Rise of Antislavery Sentiment
See how the increase of slavery stimulated the economy on three continents through the transatlantic triangular trade.
New York Public Library
Aame: Runaway Journeys: The Underground Railroad in the 19th Century
A great map showing the pathways of escape on the Underground Railroad throughout the United States. From the Schomburg Center for Research. You can also find a map of routes in the 18th century. Students can see the progression of...
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission
Explore Pa History: Agricultural and Rural Life
Discover the richness of Pennsylvania's agricultural and rural life in this detailed account. Contained within this site are links to video and pictorial images of the era.
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission
Explore Pa History: Agricultural and Rural Life
Discover the richness of Pennsylvania's agricultural and rural life in this detailed account. Contained within this site are links to video and pictorial images of the era.
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission
Explore Pa History: Set Apart Religious Communities in Pennsylvania
Explore the history of Pennsylvania's religious communities in this detailed, historical account. Contained within this site are links to audio, video, and pictorial images of events and people during this era.
State Library of North Carolina
N Cpedia: Quakers
Read about the history of the Quakers, also called the Religious Society of Friends, who are the oldest organized Christian church in North Carolina.
PBS
Africans in America: Founding of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society
A detailed account of the founding of the first Quaker abolitionist society in 1775 in Philadelphia by Anthony Benezet. The society became known as "PAS" or "Pennsylvania Abolition Society".
Other
Personal Site: Biography of Anthony Benezet
A short but good biography of the famous Quaker abolitionist who established a school for slaves in Philadelphia in 1770. He wrote a pamphlet in 1772 which led to the establishment of the anti-slave trade movement in England.
Other
Street Corner Society: The Journal of John Woolman
This web page gives a brief history of the life of John Woolman who was an abolitionist. It includes his famous journal on spiritual inner life for Quakers.
Other
The Julian of Norwich Website/life and Works of Julian
This site gives a brief biography of Julian of Norwich, which is then followed by almost 70 links to sources about her life and works. Click on "Showing of Love" in the third line for both text and analysis. An amazing number of resources.
Other
State Museum of Pennsylvania: The William Penn Treaty Collection
An online exhibit featuring a collection of historical articles and pictorial images from the founding of Pennsylvania.
Other
Pennsylvania General Assembly: The Quaker Province: 1681 1776
This resource presents an essay that describes the founding of Pennsylvania as a refuge for Quakers.
Understanding Slavery Initiative
Understanding Slavery Initiative: The Campaign for Abolition
Learn how the anti-slavery movement mobilized the British population to stage the campaign for the abolition of slave trade.
Tom Richey
Tom richey.net: A Brief History of the Quakers [Ppt]
Presents key ideas for examining the history of the Quakers in colonial America and their core beliefs.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Loyalists
Perhaps the Loyalists had some concrete reasons to support staying part of the British Empire. Read about who was a Loyalist and why. Particularly interesting is the reason behind so many slaves supporting Britain and what happened to...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Middle Colonies: Quakers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey
A good look at the philosophy of the Quakers who colonized William Penn's religious refuge in the colony of Pennsylvania. Read about Penn's liberal views about government, religious freedom, and relations with Native Americans.