The African-Americans
The African-American population in Pennsylvania grew slowly but steadily. According
to the Public Documents section in Philadelphia, Christ Church was established in
1695. Records show that as early as 1717, African-Americans were baptized, married,
and initiated asmembers of this church.
Many people in the Pennsylvania colony were opposed to slavery. This is
quite understandable when you review the basis upon which this colony was
founded – religious freedomand equality for people. The Quakers played
a leading role in the fight against slavery. In 1780, Pennsylvania became
the first state to pass a law
abolishing
slavery. The law stated that all
children born fromslavemothers after March 1, 1780, would be free.
All other slaves would become free by age 28. By 1790, the African-
American population had risen to 10,000.
Indentured Servants
Another large group of people to settle in Pennsylvania were known
as indentured servants. They were people who could not afford to pay
the ticket price for the voyage to Pennsylvania. They signed on with
ship captains and were sold when they arrived in Pennsylvania. They
were not slaves. They were usually given freedomafter seven years
of work for the people who paid for their passages.
Other Emigrants
The people who settled in Pennsylvania throughout its history have
arrived frommany different countries. Many lived in clusters in our
developing cities. Each of these different groups located in the
community according to an ethnic identity.
The ancestors of many Pennsylvanians came here during waves
of immigration to our nation. Most of the emigrants during the
1840s-1890s came to our country and state from countries in
Europe, such as England, Ireland, and Germany. After 1890, the
mining boomand need for industrial workers brought many other
people fromeastern and southern European countries such as Italy,
Poland, the former Czechoslovakia, and Russia. Throughout its
history, Pennsylvania has welcomed people frommany different
nations with differing religious beliefs. Each group has woven its
cultural identity into our historical quilt.
Christ Church in
Philadelphia was
founded in 1695 by
the Church of
England, also known
as the Episcopal
Church. This church is
a national landmark.
Fifteenmembers of
this congregation
signed ourDeclaration
of Independence,
includingGeorge
Washington and Ben
Franklin.
Pennsylvania Becomes A Religious and Cultural Haven
37
Many of our ancestors came
fromEurope during the
great waves of immigration
in the 1800s. These new
faces flocked to the industrial
jobs in ourmining towns and
other cities.
