William Penn founded Pennsylvania as a refuge for Quakers. He was a prominent Quaker leader who sought to create a colony where individuals could practice their beliefs freely without persecution, which was particularly important after the Quakers faced significant discrimination in England. Penn's vision for Pennsylvania included not just religious freedom for Quakers, but also a commitment to democracy and fair governance, which attracted diverse groups of settlers.
The other options do not align with the founding of Pennsylvania. The Treaty of Paris refers to agreements that ended conflicts, such as the American Revolutionary War, but is not connected to the founding of a colony. James II was the king of England whose reign saw tensions with various religious groups, including Quakers, but he did not found Pennsylvania. George Washington, while a key figure in American history, was not involved in the founding of Pennsylvania; his contributions came later during the revolutionary era.