William Penn’s Legacy: Politics and Social Structure in Provincial Pennsylvania 1726-1755

Tully presents a detailed study of a 30-year period in Pennsylvania following the death of its founder, William Penn, and concludes that, contrary to accepted beliefs, the 18th-century political world was largely one of peace, regularity, and order. He reveals that of fundamental importance to the nature of political life in the colony were a whole series of institutional safeguards, informal political practices, and behavioral norms that worked to resolve conflict before it became deeply disruptive. Society as a whole remained cohesive rather than divisive, and was cemented by political convention, economic interdependence, and social inbreeding. Illus.