William Penn Quotes
I do not find a model in the world, that time, place, and some singular emergences have not necessarily altered; nor is it easy to frame a civil government, that shall serve all places alike.
William Penn, 1644-1718, Founder of Pennsylvania, Preface, Frame of Government of Pennsylvania, May 5, 1682
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
They were setting of the first government of the United States according to the new Constitution.
The English Constitution is not as binding on the English government as is the Amercan Constitution. In the English system, the government in power can override the constitution although the rarely do so out of respect for the system. In America, the Constitution is much more controlling and hence would be seen to count for more. In many third world countries, the ruler can “suspend” the constitution in a national emergency.
1st Baron Macaulay
With the dissatisfaction with the British monarchy rising, American colonial leaders were considering many different alternatives. This quotation shows us that the year before Bunker Hill, the colonials were already thinking about independence but were examining alternatives for the new independent nation. The Jewish Republic was one that a number of Americans considered and some aspects of its civil law were incorporated into some independent State Governments and influenced thinking about the Federal Government in 1787.
This quotation illustrates the "winner take all" conceopt of many political cultures that call themselves and think of theselves as a democracy. But a true democracy does not allow a tyranny of the majority--especially a very narrow minority.
William Penn was an English writer and religious thinker belonging to the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, a North American colony of England. He was an early advocate of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful treaties with the Lenape Native Americans. Under his direction, the city of Philadelphia was planned and developed. Philadelphia was planned out to be grid-like with its streets and be very easy to navigate, unlike London where Penn was from. The streets are named with numbers and tree names. He chose to use the names of trees for the cross streets because Pennsylvania means "Penn's Woods".
