Geography and Resources: The Story of Adaptation

Posted by William Hummel on Nov 30, 2013 in | Comments Off on Geography and Resources: The Story of Adaptation The country itself, in its soil, air, water, seasons, and produce, both natural and artificial, is not to be despised. – William Penn Man is a creative and inventive creature capable of either adapt­ing to the environment, when need be, or adapting the environment to suit his particular needs. In the words of Max Savelle, “the history of the Anglo­American colonies is . . . a history...
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Chronology of Events Relating to Pennsylvania During Year 1776

Posted by Louis Waddell on Nov 29, 2013 in | Comments Off on Chronology of Events Relating to Pennsylvania During Year 1776 January 1776   1 Defeat of the American Assault on Quebec involves heavy losses of troops from Pennsylvania. 2 The Second Continental Congress, sitting in Philadelphia, pro­tests against brutality employed by the British Army in the war against the colonies. The Pennsylvania Committee of Safety, operating in Phila­delphia, begins to vote recommendations for officers to command the 4...
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Transportation in Pennsylvania in 1776

Posted by Homer Rosenberger on Nov 29, 2013 in | Comments Off on Transportation in Pennsylvania in 1776 During the Revolution, Pennsylvania was a central stage from the standpoint of geography, leadership, manpower, and supplies. Therefore, its transportation facilities were of special significance. The southeastern part of the State produced large quantities of the very materials needed by the Continental Army. A modest network of roads made possible the transporting of those materials to Valley...
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Women in Pennsylvania … The First Two Hundred Years

Posted by Corinne Krause on Nov 29, 2013 in | Comments Off on Women in Pennsylvania … The First Two Hundred Years In the past two hundred years thousands of women have contributed significantly to the social, economic, political and cultural richness of Pennsylvania. An encyclopedia could barely sketch their contributions. Since this article cannot possibly present a complete picture of women’s history in our state, it will survey the changes in women’s roles with brief accounts of a few famous...
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Historic Sites of the Revolution

Posted by George Dowdell on Nov 29, 2013 in | Comments Off on Historic Sites of the Revolution Pennsylvania is unusually rich in historic sites associated with the American Struggle for nationhood two centuries ago. The Bicentennial observance under­scores the importance of this treasury of the state’s historic heritage. The deep involvement of Pennsylvania people and land in the Revolutionary War is reflected by these historic sites maintained by government as well as organizations...
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Commission Assumes Active Role

Posted by PA Heritage Staff on Nov 29, 2013 in | Comments Off on Commission Assumes Active Role The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission exists to promote the Commonwealth’s historical and cultural heritage and to see that the public recognizes its own achievements. It was for these reasons that the Commonwealth created the agency. The PHMC was born November 26, 1913, when Gov. John K. Tener appointed five members authorized by a law which he had signed in July. As Nicholas...
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Executive Director’s Message

Posted by William Wewer on Nov 29, 2013 in | Comments Off on Executive Director’s Message Our hope in publishing this special commemorative Bicentennial Edition of Pennsylvania Heritage is to provide a lasting memento of 200 years of Pennsylvania’s heritage. Special focus is given to The American Revolution in Pennsylvania during this, the Bicentennial Year. It is our earnest wish that this publication will be a valuable record of what we as Pennsylvanians point to with pride....
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A Salute to the Bicentennial of the Keystone State

Posted by Philip Klein on Nov 29, 2013 in | Comments Off on A Salute to the Bicentennial of the Keystone State The current Bicentennial celebration commemorates not the birth of the United States, but the proclama­tion of thirteen British-American colonies that were “free and independent states” as of July 4, 17.76. When they formed a loose compact in 1761, their articles of confederation declared that “each state retains its sover­eignty, freedom and independence.” The...
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The French and Indian War and the Revolution

Posted by William Hunter on Nov 29, 2013 in | Comments Off on The French and Indian War and the Revolution If in spite of all the Bicentennial reminders the Revolutionary War seems somewhat far away, the French and Indian War must seem so much more remote as to be irrelevant. The familiar Pennsylvania events of the Revolution – the battles of Brandywine and German­town, the Valley Forge encampment, the Declaration of Independence – took place in the settled parts of the State, the battles were fought...
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The Revolutionary War in Pennsylvania

Posted by John Trussell on Nov 29, 2013 in | Comments Off on The Revolutionary War in Pennsylvania With some conspicuous exceptions, Pennsylvania was largely on the outskirts of the scenes of Revolutionary War military operations. True, in December, 1776, Gen. George Washington brought the remnants of his retreating army from New Jersey into Pennsylvania, using the area in the vicinity of McKonkey’s Ferry as the jumping-off point for the Christmas-night crossing of the Delaware and the...
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