The Great Depression（1929—1939）closed mines and steel mills．Unemployment of Pennsylvania’s miners and steelworkers（钢铁工厂的工人）reached almost 80percent，as hundreds of thousands of workers lost their jobs．State leaders passed welfare laws and set a minimum wage for women and children．State programs provided jobs in highway construction，conservation，and production of natural resources．World War II（1939—1945）also helped to end the Depression．Pennsylvania provided clothing，coal，steel，ships，and weapons for the army．
After the war，several of Pennsylvania’s large industries were hurt as competition from other states increased and the need for coal and railroad production decreased．Thousands of workers lost their jobs．State leaders created jobs through construction projects．The Pennsylvania Turnpike（收费公路）opened in 1940．Pittsburgh and Philadelphia experienced major redevelopment（恢复（促进）经济发展，重点恢复）of the downtown areas and hundreds of new schools were built．
Pennsylvania has struggled with pollution and natural disasters throughout its history of statehood．In 1889，a flood near Johnstown killed more than 2，000people．In 1936，floodwaters swept across much of the state killing more than 100people and causing40million in damage．In 1972，a tropical（热带的）storm resulted in 55deaths and over3billion in damages．An accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant near Harrisburg in 1979，threatened the release of deadly levels of radiation in the area．And the most recent occurred on May 31，1985，when a group of tornadoes（龙卷风，大雷雨）hit the northern part of the state，killing 65and causing damages estimated at 375million．
Recently，state leaders are striving to expand and diversify Pennsylvania’s economy．More encouragement is being given to educational，financial，and service industries．Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have also developed many of their historical sites．This has created thousands of new jobs and attracted new investments to these cities．
Governor州长
Rendell在2003年1月21日宣布成为宾夕法尼亚州第45任州长。他开始立法的第一条就是：建设新宾夕法尼亚州的计划。这项计划一经实施，居民所得税平均减少了30％，而采取多项措施提高宾夕法尼亚州老年人的财政状况以及其他靠固定工资维持生计的人。拥护者声称这项计划填补了学校之间的资源空白，同时，在三年里每年投资达12．5亿，用以推进学校科研成果。而且行政部门还通过处方药计划，以确保老年人们的健康。
Rendell was sworn in as Pennsylvania’s 45th Governor on January 21，2003．
The first piece of legislation Rendell initiated was The Plan for a New Pennsylvania．The Plan reduced taxes by one and a half billion dollars，an average 30％decrease for homeowners，and also took steps to improve the financial situation of many older Pennsylvanians and others who live on fixed incomes．Supporters claim this plan closes the resource gap between school districts while at the same time investing up to 1．25billion annually within three years to fund proven programs that boost（推进）student achievement．Later that year，the Rendell administration also passed a prescription drug（须医师处方才可买的药品）plan to cover older Pennsylvanians．
However，Governor Rendell was heavily criticized for his stubborness（倔强，顽强）in passing his first fiscal（财政的，国库的）year budget．Pennsylvania did operate without a budget for over six months due to difficulties in negotiations．
In 2004，Governor Rendell persuaded the General Assembly to pass measures to legalize（and tax）slot machine parlors（店营业室）so the money can be used to grant property tax relief．Due to a compromise with the legislature，Rendell was forced to accept a provision requiring that this relief only be administered in areas where the local school boards have voted to accept the funding．Act 72，as it came to be known，was ratified by only one fifth of Pennsylvania’s school districts and is seen as a failure for the Rendell Administration．Prior to this legislation，the only legal forms of gambling（赌博）were horse－racing and the state－run lottery，meaning that Governor Rendell has taken criticism from many opponents of legalized gambling．
As a result of Act 72，Governor Rendell and the Pennsylvania legislature are attempting to pass other proposals that would grant property tax relief．In addition，the governor has expressed a willingness to consider legislation to change Act 72．Legislation exists that would force school districts to accept the money，while other legislation exists that would require the issue to be considered by the individual citizens of each district as a ballot question，rather than by their school boards．Property tax relief and Act 72are issues of great controversy（辩论），however，and have been subject to political gridlock（停滞）．
He was born in New York City to Jewish American parents Jesse T．Rendell and Emma Sloat．He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1965and a Juris Doctor from Villanova Law School in 1968．He served in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard．
Rendell served as district attorney（〈美〉律师）of Philadelphia，Pennsylvania from 1978to 1985．In 1986，he was defeated in the Democratic primary for Governor by Robert P．Casey，the father of his opponent in the 2002primary election，Robert Patrick Casey，Jr．．He served as Mayor of Philadelphia from 1992to 2000，before running for Governor in 2002．As mayor，he helped improve neighborhoods and balance the city’s budget．These cost－cutting policies brought him strong opposition from labor unions；however，he was re－elected in 1995with 80percent of the vote．He was nicknamed “America’s Mayor”by Al Gore and chaired the Democratic National Committee during the 2000presidential election．
State Bird州鸟
北美松鸡在1931年6月22日被批准为宾夕法尼亚州的州鸟。这种鸟喜欢生活在崎岖的山脉以及河流和小溪的岩石边上，它们将自己深藏在常绿树林里和小的灌木丛中。有时它们也迁移到低地，还会进入芦苇丛，有时，它们就在那儿产卵。北美松鸡飞得比较低，而且如果不是被惊扰，它们一般飞不到100码。在受到攻击时，它会从地面飞起，在受到狗的追赶时，它会发出叫声。但这叫声在它飞时是听不见的，而且小的松鸡在同样的情况下，通常还不会发出叫声。
The ruffed grouse was adopted as Pennsylvania’s state bird on June 22，1931，the same day its state tree was adopted．Little has been recorded about the grouse’s adoption．It was championed by Mrs．Harry J．Shoemaker，Chairman of birds and flowers and the officers of the State Federation of Women’s Clubs．