Final answer:
The Pennsylvania system refers to the penal practice developed in Pennsylvania characterized by solitary confinement and rehabilitation. It's rooted in the democratic ideals advanced by William Penn during the founding and governance of Pennsylvania, marked by a progressive constitution and penal reform.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Pennsylvania system, also known as the Walnut Street Jail system, was an early form of penal practice developed in Pennsylvania during the 18th century. According to historical sources, including the Frame of Government of Pennsylvania (1683) and the Charter of Privileges Granted by William Penn (1701), the Pennsylvania system became known for its progressive stance towards the treatment and rehabilitation of prisoners. The evolution of this system can be notably traced to the influence of William Penn, who began the founding of Pennsylvania, with an emphasis on religious freedom and democratic principles.
William Penn was a Quaker and played a pivotal role in the development of the Pennsylvania constitution, which was remarkable for its time for emphasizing majority rule and democracy. His ideals helped in shaping the way governance was viewed in the colony, giving residents much more control over their government than in any other English colony. The changes to the governance structures, such as the implementation of unicameral legislature and the abolition of property qualifications for voting, eventually influenced the wider approach to reform, including penal reform, in Pennsylvania. Although the question may be steering towards a system of impressment on a different topic, in terms of socio-political systems, Pennsylvania's system refers to its penal and constitutional arrangements.