U.S. History STAAR Practice Test 2026 – Complete Exam Prep Guide

Pennsylvania was founded as a proprietary colony, established by William Penn in 1681. A proprietary colony is one where the owner or proprietor has significant control over the land and governance, a framework that allowed Penn to create a colony with a particular vision of religious freedom and democratic governance. Penn, a Quaker, wanted Pennsylvania to be a sanctuary for those seeking religious tolerance, and his ownership allowed him to enact laws and policies reflecting this ideal.

This distinction is crucial in understanding the differences among the colonies, as the other colonies mentioned were not proprietary in nature. Virginia initially operated under a charter from the Crown and was governed by a colonial assembly. Massachusetts was founded by Puritans seeking religious freedom but maintained a charter system thus, it does not fit the proprietary model. Rhode Island, although founded by dissenters from Massachusetts, was established as a self-governing colony and received a charter, rather than being a proprietary colony.