William Penn, the founding character of the colony of Pennsylvania was a Quaker-Whig who sought the opportunity for religious choice and absence of oppression which he faced in England. When determining the founding principles for Pennsylvania Penn relied on self-governance and freedom of religion and religious practices.
Initially, the settlers of Pennslyvania and Penn were in agreement about the structure of government needed in the colony, however, over time the representative body sought the right to pass laws over the people living the town, something Penn opposed. None the less, Penn endorsed representative government over self-governance and agreed to the passage of laws in the colony.