THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY BOBACK, OCTOBER 15, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, OCTOBER 15, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing December 12, 2012, as the 225th anniversary of

Pennsylvania's statehood.

WHEREAS, Before this Commonwealth was settled by Europeans,

the area was home to the Delaware, Susquehannock, Iroquois,

Eriez, Shawnee and other American Indian Nations; and

WHEREAS, The Dutch and the English claimed both sides of the

Delaware River as part of their colonial lands in America, with

the Dutch being the first to take possession and having an

impact on the history of Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, On September 12, 1672, as part of the Third Anglo-

Dutch War, the Dutch reconquered New York Colony/New Amsterdam

and established three county courts which went on to become

original Counties in present day Delaware and Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, The one that later transferred to Pennsylvania was

Upland and partitioned on November 12, 1674, producing the

general outline of the current border between Pennsylvania and

Delaware; and

WHEREAS, On February 28, 1681, King Charles II granted one of

the largest land grants, called Pennsylvania, to William Penn in

order to repay a debt; and 

WHEREAS, William Penn signed a peace treaty with Tammany,

leader of the Delaware tribe, beginning a long period of

friendly relations between the Quakers and the Indians; and

WHEREAS, After the Stamp Act Congress of 1765, Delegate John

Dickinson of Philadelphia wrote the Declaration of Rights and

Grievances; and

WHEREAS, The Congress was the first meeting of the 13

colonies, called at the request of the Massachusetts Assembly,

but only nine colonies sent delegates; and

WHEREAS, When the Founding Fathers of the United States

convened in Philadelphia in 1774, 12 colonies sent

representatives to the First Continental Congress; and 

WHEREAS, The Second Continental Congress, which also met in

Philadelphia in 1775, drew up and signed the Declaration of

Independence in Philadelphia, and

WHEREAS, When Philadelphia was captured by the British, the

Continental Congress escaped westward, meeting in Lancaster in

September 1777, then to York where they drew up the Articles of

Confederation that formed 13 independent colonies into a new

nation, and later, the Constitution was written and signed in

Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania became the second state to ratify the

Constitution of the United States on December 12, 1787;

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize

December 12, 2012, as the 225th anniversary of Pennsylvania's

statehood.