A VISION FOR LIBERTY What’s so important about a bell that’s over 260 years old cracked and doesn’t even ring It can be traced back to a forward-thinking man named William Penn William Penn had a vision for peace freedom and equality for all people His vision gave power to the people and allowed them to work together to shape their own government Penn’s vision became the foundation of democracy in the United States of America A bell was created to commemorate Penn’s visionary work That old cracked bell that doesn’t ring is the Liberty Bell It has become an international symbol of peace freedom and liberty for all 4
WILLIAM PENN'S STORY William Penn was born in England in 1644 Young William saw people treated unfairly in his country He saw people punished for having different religious beliefs and for trying to speak freely William was a serious student He learned different ways of thinking He decided to pursue a life in which all people were treated equally and had the freedom to make their own choices 6 William Penn 1644 1718
As a young man William decided to become a Quaker Quakers were a Christian group committed to pacifism He worked with other Quakers to establish a settlement in America where everyone was granted freedoms not permissible in England William wanted everyone to be able to choose his or her own religion He wanted people to have a voice in their government and make their own laws No matter what religion or what race he thought all people should be treated equally William Penn arriving in Philadelphia 1682 7
