Pennsylvania
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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A state of the United States of America.
History
Pennsylvania was founded as a colony by William Penn, and the name is from "Penn's Woods" which in Latin is 'pennsylvania'. It was originally founded as a place of religious freedom for Quakers.
Pennsylvania was actually two of the thirteen colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution in 1776: At that time its "lower three" counties (New Castle, Kent, and Sussex) were split off as the separate (and 13th) colony of Delaware. Pennsylvania became the second state on December 12, 1787 (five days after Delaware became the first state). Although he was born in Boston, Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin was one of the most important figures in Pennsylvania's history.