Civics_ch14_info-4

**Part 4: Life in PA Throughout History**
Read the parts below to answer the questions on your Internet guide.


 * __Religion__: Pennsylvania has had a long history of religious toleration (allowing citizens to practice their form of faith). When William Penn set up the Pennsylvania colony, he envisioned a colony where all could come and worship God as they saw fit. Penn did recognize the importance of Christianity since the Charter of Privileges of 1701 stated that to be part of the PA colonial government one had to be a Christian. Various religious groups came to PA - Swedish and German Lutherans, German Mennonites and other German groups, French Huguenots (Protestants), Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, English Baptists, and German Amish. As of the 2000 census, the largest religious group in PA is Roman Catholic and the largest Protestant group was United Methodist.
 * __Political Developments - slavery__: Pennsylvania was one of the first colonies/states to push against slavery. Founders such as Benjamin Franklin and James Wilson wanted to abolish slavery in the Constitution. The Quakers (founders of PA) were against slavery and were the ones who began the Underground Railroad to help slaves escape the South. The Gradual Abolition of Slavery Act of 1780 was the nation's first law to stop slavery.
 * __Transportation__: The National Road, sometimes called the Cumberland Road, went through parts of PA. Today it is Route 40. Most of the states major cities were built along river routes making canals important to early Pennsylvania growth. Right before the outbreak of the Civil War, Pennsylvania led all states in miles of rail and total amount invested in the railroads. Draw and label the National Road on your map.
 * __Education__: Pennsylvania also led the way in education. The PA Constitution of 1790 provided the basis for public (free) education in the state. The Free School Act of 1834 set up a genuine system of public schools, which would help give a model for other states to use.

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