In England, Scotland, and Ireland, religiously and politically charged civil wars were fought, which led to the execution of a king and a short-lived English republic. With the restoration of the monarchy, a land grant was issued to a young English Quaker. It was a grant that would not only provide religious freedom in America, but would change the course of history.

Recommended reading: William Penn: A Life by Andrew R. Murphy

Penn - https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/october-14/

Penn gov for Penn - https://avalon.law.yale.edu/17th_century/pa04.asp

Charter grant - https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/pa07.asp

Charles II - https://www.royal.uk/charles-ii

James I - https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/stories/scottish-history-and-archaeology/james-vi-and-i/

James I - https://www.royal.uk/james-i#:~:text=James%20I%20(r.,%2D1625)%20%7C%20The%20Royal%20Family

Charles I - https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/stories/scottish-history-and-archaeology/the-jacobite-challenge/the-jacobite-challenge/coronation-ampulla/

Charles I - https://www.royal.uk/charles-i

Mary Queen of Scots - https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/stories/scottish-history-and-archaeology/mary-queen-of-scots/mary-queen-of-scots/life-and-deathline-of-mary-queen-of-scots/

Cromwell - https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/how-did-oliver-cromwell-die

Interregnum - https://www.royal.uk/interregnum-1649-1660 

British Civil Wars - https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/british-civil-wars 

British Civil Wars - https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/the-english-civil-wars-history-and-stories/ 

Restoration - https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/restoration#:~:text=King%20Charles%20II%20has%20returned!&text=On%2025%20May%201660%20Charles,been%20suppressed%20under%20the%20Republic.

Glorious Rev - https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/The-Glorious-Revolution-1688/

Admiral Will Penn - https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Penn-British-admiral

Admiral Will Penn - https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-14419

Quaker execution - https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel01-2.html 

Roger Williams - https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel01-2.html 

March 4, 1681 - https://hsp.org/blogs/question-week/march-4-1681-marks-which-important-event-pennsylvania%E2%80%99s-history

Delaware - https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/august-24/#william-penn-acquires-the-lower-counties

Longest surviving written charter - https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/senate-and-constitution/constitution-day.htm#:~:text=Written%20in%201787%2C%20ratified%20in,surviving%20written%20charter%20of%20government.