Editing Charter of Pennsylvania (section)

== Impact on Colonial Development ==

The charter's issuance in 1681 set in motion the rapid development of Pennsylvania. Penn wasted no time in organizing his colony, appointing commissioners to begin land distribution even before his own arrival. His cousin William Markham arrived in Pennsylvania in 1681 to prepare for the founder's coming, establishing initial relations with the [[Lenape People|Lenape]] and the existing Swedish and Finnish settlers along the Delaware River. Settlers began arriving in 1682, and Philadelphia was laid out in that year according to Penn's careful instructions. Within a few years, Pennsylvania had attracted thousands of settlers, growing faster than any previous English colony.<ref name="illick"/>

The proprietary model established by the charter shaped Pennsylvania's development in distinctive ways. Unlike royal colonies, where governors served at the pleasure of the crown, Pennsylvania's proprietors (Penn and his descendants) appointed governors and retained ultimate authority over land distribution. Unlike corporate colonies, which were administered for the benefit of shareholders, Pennsylvania was the personal property of a single family. This arrangement gave Penn and his heirs strong incentives to attract settlers and develop the colony, but it also created tensions when the proprietors' interests conflicted with those of colonists. These tensions increased over time, eventually contributing to Pennsylvania's support for American independence.<ref name="soderlund"/>