A Controversial Land Deal in Colonial Pennsylvania


In the early 18th century, the region we now know as Pennsylvania was the site of a troubling historical event known as the "Walking Purchase." On September 19, 1737, British settlers and American Indian tribes engaged in a deal that would later symbolize the unfair treatment of indigenous people during colonial expansion.

The Walking Purchase began at dawn and, after a night of rest, concluded at 2 o'clock the following afternoon. The idea behind this purchase was simple in theory but devastating in practice: it was agreed that the settlers would claim as much land as a man could walk in a single day. The tribes, likely thinking this was a reasonable deal, expected the distance to be around 60 km (37 miles) — a day’s walk for a typical person.

However, the settlers employed trained runners instead of regular walkers. These men managed to cover a shocking 113 km (70 miles) within the allotted time, far surpassing what the tribes had anticipated. This act of manipulation resulted in the seizure of an astonishing 1.2 million acres of land. To compound the unfairness, the land was claimed all the way to the Delaware River, with the British drawing a perpendicular line to stake their claim.

This swath of territory, grabbed under dubious circumstances, became known as Pennsylvania, named after William Penn, one of the early colonial leaders. The name itself is derived from the Latin word "silva," meaning forest or trees, in recognition of the dense woodland that once covered the area.

The event was a stark contrast to the earlier peaceful relations between William Penn and the Lenape (Delaware) tribe. In 1686, Penn had negotiated a treaty with the tribe, securing some land through amicable means. But after his death, the relationship between the tribes and his successors deteriorated, leading to the exploitative Walking Purchase. While many tribes across America faced oppression and violence, the Lenape tribe had initially managed to maintain a more peaceful coexistence with the colonists, making this betrayal even more painful.

Today, the Lenape people are officially recognized as the Delaware Nation, a reminder of their heritage and the complex, often tragic history of indigenous tribes in North America.