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The Revolutionary Years
From its founding, Pennsylvania welcomed settlers of many origins and diverse convictions. This heritage, aided by Pennsylvania’s prosperity as a British colony, helped to produce a society of people deeply committed to their identity as Pennsylvanians and as British subjects. They were joined by many who, from religious conviction, refused to engage in war for any cause. Though revolutionary leaders consistently portrayed themselves as defending their ancient rights as Englishmen, they nevertheless existed very uncomfortably with their Loyalist and pacifist neighbors. Arguments, and worse, about the justice of the colonial cause disrupted social, economic, legal, and personal lives throughout the revolutionary period and into the early years of the Republic.
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