oct 27, 1682 - William Penn establishes Pennsylvania

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King Charles II of England had a large loan due to William Penn's father, which he repaid by granting Penn himself a large area of land west and south of New Jersey. Penn called it "Sylvania," meaning "woods," and Charles renamed it Pennsylvania. Penn also drew up a charter of "liberties" for the citizens of the settlement, including rights to a trial by jury, freedom of religion, freedom from unjust imprisonment, free elections. These became important points in our government later as the basis for the Bill of Rights.

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