In a unit on Colonial America, opportunities arise to discuss conflict and violence. Students learn about the Pennsylvania Colony and William Penn’s long-lasting treaty with the Native Americans, and his desire to support Quaker beliefs to make Pennsylvania a place of peace and kindness. I would begin my instruction on the peaceful Pennsylvania Colony with Dr. Martin Luther King’s conversation about conflict and his belief that love can turn an enemy into a friend. We would discuss the ways in which William Penn followed this belief and compare the Pennsylvania Colony with more the violent and aggressive approaches that other colonies took.
Level: Elementary Social Studies
Subject Area: American History
Author: Tiffany Heitman
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