Final answer:
The Pennsylvania system was a form of imprisonment developed by the British as an alternative to corporal punishment. It aimed to rehabilitate criminals through hard work, religious instruction, and isolation from social vices. The system focused on transforming inmates into law-abiding citizens.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Pennsylvania system was a form of imprisonment developed by the British around 1790 as an alternative to corporal punishment. It was a part of the reform of prisons during the early 19th century, which aimed to transform criminals into law-abiding citizens through hard work, religious instruction, and isolation from social vices. The system focused on rehabilitation and moral redemption, believing that social deviants could be reformed. This system involved the creation of penitentiaries and the establishment of asylums for the treatment of the mentally ill.