<P> The History of Pennsylvania as a political entity began in 1681 William Penn received a royal charter from King Charles II of England , but human activity in the region precedes that date . Before Pennsylvania was settled by Europeans , the area was home to the Lenape , Susquehannock , Iroquois , Erie , Shawnee and other Native American tribes . Most of these tribes were driven off or reduced to remnants as a result of new diseases such as smallpox that arrived long before any permanent colonists . Pennsylvania was first colonized by Swedish and Dutch settlers in the 17th century , before the English took control of the colony in 1667 . In 1681 , William Penn established a colony based on religious tolerance ; it and its chief city , Philadelphia ( the first planned city ) , was settled by many Quakers . In the mid-eighteenth century , the colony attracted many German and Scots - Irish immigrants </P>
<P> The History of Pennsylvania as a political entity began in 1681 William Penn received a royal charter from King Charles II of England , but human activity in the region precedes that date . Before Pennsylvania was settled by Europeans , the area was home to the Lenape , Susquehannock , Iroquois , Erie , Shawnee and other Native American tribes . Most of these tribes were driven off or reduced to remnants as a result of new diseases such as smallpox that arrived long before any permanent colonists . Pennsylvania was first colonized by Swedish and Dutch settlers in the 17th century , before the English took control of the colony in 1667 . In 1681 , William Penn established a colony based on religious tolerance ; it and its chief city , Philadelphia ( the first planned city ) , was settled by many Quakers . In the mid-eighteenth century , the colony attracted many German and Scots - Irish immigrants </P>
where did the first settlers of pennsylvania come from
where did the first settlers of pennsylvania come from
Swedish Dutch
Swedish Dutch