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Penn's failure to govern Pennsylvania effectively can be traced to his absence from the colony during 1684-99, his constant tampering with the mechanisms of governance, and his insufficient respect for his subjects. The hierarchical model of government he supported was liberal for the day, but still provided the Quaker settlers with less power than they wanted.

Penn's failure to govern Pennsylvania effectively can be traced to his absence from the colony during 1684-99, his constant tampering with the mechanisms of governance, and his insufficient respect for his subjects. The hierarchical model of government he supported was liberal for the day, but still provided the Quaker settlers with less power than they wanted.

==== Native relations ====

==== Native relations ====

Penn's government, unusually, is renowned for its cordial relations with Native Americans. Even though Penn was granted his territory by King Charles II, he refused to grant or settle it without first buying it from the Native Americans who lived there<ref>http://xroads.virginia.edu/~CAP/PENN/pnind.html</ref>"[http://www.legis.state.pa.us/wu01/vc/visitor_info/pa_history/II.htm The Founding of Pennsylvania]." The Quaker Province. ''Pennsylvania General Assembly''.</ref> , insisting on purchasing it through "peaceful, voluntary exchanges", and even learned Indian dialects himself so that he could conduct negotiations without interpreters.<ref name=powell /> By 1668 he had purchased all but the northwestern third of Pennsylvania, and in 1684 and 1689 additionally purchased the Six Nation's claims to the rest of the land, as well as claims from the Delawares and Wyandots in 1685.<ref name=founding /> Penn maintained peaceful relations with the Native Americans, and was well-respected by the Susquehannocks, Shawnees, and Leni-Lenape for his courage, because he would walk among them without guards or weapons, and was an incredible sprinter who could out-run Indian braves. Penn's conclusion of a "Great Treaty" at Shackamaxon near the present-day Kensington district of Philadelphia was lauded by Voltaire as "the only treaty between those people [Indians and Christians] that was not ratified by an oath, and that was never infringed."<ref name=powell /> Penn also recognized citizenship rights of Swedish, Dutch, and Finnish settlers living in the newly acquired Delaware River Valley.<ref>"[http://www.amphilsoc.org/exhibits/treasures/charter.htm William Penn, Charter of Privileges for the Province of Pennsylvania, 1701]." Treasures of the APS. ''American Philosophical Society''.</ref>

Penn's government, unusually, is renowned for its cordial relations with Native Americans. Even though Penn was granted his territory by King Charles II, he refused to grant or settle it without first buying it from the Native Americans who lived there<ref>http://xroads.virginia.edu/~CAP/PENN/pnind.html</ref><ref>"[http://www.legis.state.pa.us/wu01/vc/visitor_info/pa_history/II.htm The Founding of Pennsylvania]." The Quaker Province. ''Pennsylvania General Assembly''.</ref>, insisting on purchasing it through "peaceful, voluntary exchanges", and even learned Indian dialects himself so that he could conduct negotiations without interpreters.<ref name=powell /> By 1668 he had purchased all but the northwestern third of Pennsylvania, and in 1684 and 1689 additionally purchased the Six Nation's claims to the rest of the land, as well as claims from the Delawares and Wyandots in 1685.<ref name=founding /> Penn maintained peaceful relations with the Native Americans, and was well-respected by the Susquehannocks, Shawnees, and Leni-Lenape for his courage, because he would walk among them without guards or weapons, and was an incredible sprinter who could out-run Indian braves. Penn's conclusion of a "Great Treaty" at Shackamaxon near the present-day Kensington district of Philadelphia was lauded by Voltaire as "the only treaty between those people [Indians and Christians] that was not ratified by an oath, and that was never infringed."<ref name=powell /> Penn also recognized citizenship rights of Swedish, Dutch, and Finnish settlers living in the newly acquired Delaware River Valley.<ref>"[http://www.amphilsoc.org/exhibits/treasures/charter.htm William Penn, Charter of Privileges for the Province of Pennsylvania, 1701]." Treasures of the APS. ''American Philosophical Society''.</ref>

 

====Equality====

====Equality====

Well ahead of his time, William Penn not only interacted peacefully with Native American tribes, but insisted on equal rights for women. While Penn nevertheless owned slaves, as did other early Quakers, Pennsylvania banned importation of slaves in 1696.<ref name=dade>Duqella, G., Hassell, P., et. al. "[http://cghs.dadeschools.net/slavery/anti-slavery_movement/quakers.htm Quakers in the Anti-slavery Movement]." Anti-slavery Movement: Quakers. Miami-Dade County Public Schools.</ref> In 1758, before the U.S.A. was even born, Quakers formally opposed slavery altogether<ref name=powell />, and would form much of the early opposition to slavery in the coming United States of America, founding the first American anti-slavery group and inspiring early abolitionism.<ref name=dade />  

Well ahead of his time, William Penn not only interacted peacefully with Native American tribes, but insisted on equal rights for women. While Penn nevertheless owned slaves, as did other early Quakers, Pennsylvania banned importation of slaves in 1696.<ref name=dade>Duqella, G., Hassell, P., et. al. "[http://cghs.dadeschools.net/slavery/anti-slavery_movement/quakers.htm Quakers in the Anti-slavery Movement]." Anti-slavery Movement: Quakers. Miami-Dade County Public Schools.</ref> In 1758, before the U.S.A. was even born, Quakers formally opposed slavery altogether<ref name=powell />, and would form much of the early opposition to slavery in the coming United States of America, founding the first American anti-slavery group and inspiring early abolitionism.<ref name=dade />