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To prevent tyranny, William Penn used the concept of separation of powers in the Frame of Government, a concept later used in the US Constitution.

a) Anarchy
b) Oligarchy
c) Absolutism
d) Monarchy

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Final answer:

William Penn instituted the separation of powers in the Frame of Government for Pennsylvania to avoid absolutism and create a balanced government structure, influencing the later U.S. Constitution's design.

Step-by-step explanation:

To prevent tyranny in the establishment of Pennsylvania's government, William Penn used the concept of separation of powers in his Frame of Government. This meant distributing the governmental functions among different branches or parts to ensure no single entity could hold absolute power. Penn's first Frame of Government from 1682 outlined a vision to avoid absolutism by creating a complex government, which included an advisory council and an elected assembly, thereby guaranteeing political balance and avoiding the rise of a sole ruler, as in a monarchy. These concepts were precursors to the frameworks used in the U.S. Constitution, where Montesquieu's ideas on separation of powers further influenced the Founding Fathers.

William Penn's efforts reflect the need to avoid different forms of concentrated power such as tyranny (absolute power by an individual), oligarchy (control by a small group), and anarchy (a lack of government leading to disorder). In the Charter of Privileges, he further decreased the power of the executive by eliminating the advisory council, which promoted religious freedom and governmental control in the hands of the colonists. The use of separated powers and checks and balances became a foundation to prevent an excessive concentration of power, which is seen throughout the development of American government systems in various states.

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