History of Pennsylvania. Contents. 1 Pre-Columbian era. 2 Early colonization. 3 Colonial period. 4 American Revolution and early government. 5 Westward expansion and land ... Pre-Columbian era. Early colonization. Colonial period. American Revolution and early government.

Pennsylvania is officially a Commonwealth, a word which comes from Old English and means the "common weal" or well-being of the public. In Pennsylvania, all legal processes are carried out in the name of the Commonwealth, although the word does not appear on the State Seal. The State Coat of Arms

The southern boundary of Pennsylvania, ratified in 1769, was the Mason and Dixon Line, which became the dividing line between the slave and the free states before the American Civil War. Once the war broke out, Pennsylvania once again became a centre of military and political activity.

The Pennsylvania Historical Association advances knowledge about the history and culture of Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic region. PHA achieves its mission by fostering the teaching and study of Pennsylvania’s past through publications, events and networking among scholars.

1790 to 1800, Philadelphia was the capital of the United States. While Washington was president, the state supported the Federalist Party, but grew gradually suspicious of its aristocratic goals. From the beginning, Senator William Maclay of Pennsylvania was an outspoken critic of the party.