Introduction:
Pennsylvania was among the thirteen English colonies. It is currently a state in the United States of America. The capital of Pennsylvania is Harrisburg and it borders Maryland, Ohio, New York, Delaware and West Virginia. When the European settlers came to this land in the 17th century, they found that around 15000 Indians occupied it. The Indians who lived in this colony were from three Indian tribes including Delaware, Shawnee and Susquehanna. The English, Swedes and Dutch struggled and fought to occupy this land. The English won the fight and took control over Pennsylvania. The trading posts of the Dutch were the first to be constructed in Pennsylvania. The swedes then built Fort Christina in 1637 and their first permanent structure was raised in 1643 next to the Schuylkill River. The Dutch seized the land of Sweden in 1655.The Dutch lost this colony to the English in the year 1664.This colony was transferred from King Charles II to William Pen in order to pay for the debts. Members of Penn family owned the land until 1776 where they were overthrown by the American Revolution.
Pennsylvania was characterized by the aspects of religion tolerance. The settlers found it to be a good place where they can work and worship their gods without interruption or limitations. There were no aspects of religious persecutions in Pennsylvania making it a good place for settlers to live in the eighteenth century. The environment of Pennsylvania was favorable for the settlers making it an area of interest to the colonialists. The acceptance of all religious philosophies attracted a large number of settlers to Pennsylvania in order to live peacefully and freely in this region (DeFord 28). The issue of religion is very sensitive, and this religious tolerance made the settlers feel accepted in this region. The Quakers escaped to Pennsylvania in order to seek refuge from religious persecution that was common in most parts of the other colonies.
Pennsylvania borders many other colonies like Virginia, New York, Maryland and Ohio. The proximity to the many other areas made it possible to conduct trade activities among the people. The favorable business environment in Pennsylvania contributed to the main forces in attracting many of the settlers to camp and do business in this region. It was easy to connect with other states making trading activities moves very well.
The land in Pennsylvania was cheap making it easy for most settlers to afford. This attracted the settlers to settle ad do farming activities in this land. The people were granted land in Pennsylvania for farming so as to encourage development and trade in this land as well as increasing the amount of taxes to the king of Pennsylvania at that period. This also provided good grounds for doing business operations due to accessibility of land. The accessibility of land also attracted many settlers to do business and trade in Pennsylvania. The land rates and taxes in Pennsylvania were relatively low compared to the other colonies making it attract many settlers especially from the Middle East in order to do the farming business. The cheap agricultural lands attracted many settlers to Pennsylvania in order to do farming for business at such affordable rates. This promoted a lot of farming in Pennsylvania leading to a large influx of settlers to work and trade in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania had a great potential in mining and manufacturing industries. The availability of minerals attracted many settlers in order to look for the precious minerals. The settlers were also attracted to this region in order to work at the mining and manufacturing sectors which were promising to the majority of the settlers. The availability of gold in Pennsylvania attracted many settlers in order to work at the gold mines. The settlers rushed to Pennsylvania in search for gold since the gold mining was very promising at that time. The wages expectations from gold mining and the gold trade in Pennsylvania attracted a lot of potential .The financial benefits associated with the Gold and the gold rush attracted many people to Pennsylvania. The employment opportunities at the gold mines attracted so many settlers to live and work in Pennsylvania.
In conclusion, Pennsylvania attracted many settlers due to its potential in various areas. The potential of mining especially the gold in Pennsylvania attracted many settlers to work at the gold mines as well as doing the gold business. The search for employment at such gold mines attracted many settlers to this region. The aspects of religious freedom and tolerance in Pennsylvania also attracted many settlers in order to run away from religious persecution. This also religious philosophy attracted many people to live in Pennsylvania as a way to live peacefully worshipping their Gods of choice without restrictions or limitations. The aspects of cheap land for agriculture and low land rates also attracted many settlers to Pennsylvania in order to do farming business at the most affordable and favorable conditions. The combination of the three main forces relating to mining, farming and religious freedom played a great role in attracting many settlers to Pennsylvania.
Works Cited
DeFord, Deborah H. Pennsylvania. New York: Children's Press, 2004. Print.
Land-office of Pennsylvania, Sept. 13, 1800: The First Day of October Approaches, When It Will Be Impossible to Make Any More Releases to the Commonwealth, of Lands Owned Under the Pennsylvania Title, Within the Seventeen Townships of Luzerne. Philadelphia: s.n, 1800. Print.
