Delaware


 * __Delaware__ **

** Geography ** Delaware was part of the Middle Colonies of America. Bordered by Maryland to the Southwest, Pennsylvania to the North and New Jersey & Atlantic Ocean to the East, its main geographic features were its flat coastal plains and rivers. Delaware as a whole does not have very high elevation, but in the Northern part of the state, there are the Appalachian Mountains, which acted as a natural barrier for the colonists, preventing them from expanding West. The Delaware and Nanticoke Rivers flows through Delaware providing fertile lands ideal for farming. Due to its rich farmlands, Delaware along with the other Middle Colonies was considered the “Bread Basket,” of America, producing a large mass of food for the colonies. Harbors such as the Delaware Bay and their river systems were used for shipping and trading its main commerce.

**History**

In 1631, coming from Northwestern Europe, David Pietersen de Vries founded the Dutch colony, Swanendawl. Nearly a year later, the colony was wiped out by Native Americans. The Native Americans living in the Delaware area were Algonquian. In the Northern part of Delaware there was the Lenni Lenape tribe and to the south the Nanticoke tribe. In 1638 a Swedish group led by the Dutchman Peter Minuit founded the colony of New Sweden in the Delaware Valley. New Sweden was used as a trading post and colony at Fort Christina. In 1651 however, the Dutch led by Peter Stuyvesant established a new fort in New Castle. Stuyvesant took over New Sweden and incorporated it into New Netherland. Nine years later the Dutch were removed from the area by the English under James, the Duke of York. The Duke leased William Penn ownership of the colony in 1682 because Penn wanted access to the Atlantic from Pennsylvania. Delaware was a __Proprietary Colony-__ a colony in which one or more private land owners retain rights that are normally the privilege of the state and eventually become so. William Penn established a representative government which combined two possessions under one General Assembly. By 1704, Pennsylvania and the “Low Counties,” were ruled under the same governor.

**Economics**

The Delaware Colonists used their fertile lands to their advantage. Farming was their main commerce having tobacco as their **Cash Crop-** a crop for direct sale in a market, as distinguished from a crop for use as livestock feed or for other purposes. Having many farmlands, Delaware had slavery in their colony. They imported an immense amount of slaves from West Africa being part of the **Triangular Trade-** a pattern of colonial commerce in which slaves were bought from Africa with New England rum then traded in the West Indies for sugar or molasses, which was brought back to New England to be manufactured into rum. Mercantilism was a major part of the colonies in America. **Mercantilism** is the economic system based on the premise that national wealth and power were best served by increasing exports and collecting precious metals in return.

** Social ** In colonial Delaware there were many languages spoken. Swedish, Dutch, English and Lenape (Native American) were the most popular languages. The dominant religions in the Delaware area were Anglican (from England) and Lutheran, which was originally from the colony of New Sweden. When William Penn gained control of the colony he brought the Quaker religion into Delaware. However, later the Great Awakening affected the colonies of America. The **Great Awakening** happened in the 1730's and 1740's when people came to America and didn't have time for religion.People were too busy keeping up with things in their colonies, they forgot about religion. Women in Colonial America played an immense role. Women had the role of taking care of their children at home. Poor women would have to cook meals, make clothing, and make goods to sell at home. Middle class women would have to do similar chores, but most of them had slaves to help them.

** Political **

The King of England, Charles granted William Penn Delaware’s charter in 1701. A charter is a paper giving certain rights to a certain person or group. William Penn had control of Pennsylvania and Delaware after the charter. The Delaware Charter of 1701 allowed a great amount of religious tolerance and freedom. This is because the delegates who wrote the Charter were influenced by the tolerance in Pennsylvania. Previous to 1701, Delaware, or the “Low Counties,” was a part of Pennsylvania. Following its autonomy in 1701, Delaware remained under the governor of Pennsylvania. **Salutary Neglect **was the method the English used in the colonies in America for the colonists to become self sufficient and independent. King George was away from America and left arranging the colonies to the colonists themselves thinking it would be healthy for them.

** French and Indian War **

During the French and Indian War it occurred more in the Appalachian Mountains area and Pennsylvania forests. The British and French forts were scattered throughout the mountains therefore, but Delaware also participated in the war because the British used 450 Colonial militia (armed citizens who serve as soldiers during an emergency). Also, 3,000 European settlers occupied Upper Delaware River Valley during the war and the Delaware Indians sided with the British. Pennsylvania and New Jersey colonial governments developed fortifications to protect the European settlers. In 1775 Pennsylvania created a plan to erect twelve forts fifteen miles apart that can hold 50 men each. The forts ran from the Upper Delaware River Valley southwestward to act as a barrier to protect the colony from attacks. The British controlled the Delaware River in 1777, influencing the colonists around them, therefore there were more Loyalists than Patriots in the Delaware River Valley area. **Revolution** Thomas McKean, from Delaware played a key part in the Revolution. He was a lawyer and patriot leader who denounced the Stamp Act and eventually represented Delaware in signing the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Caesar Rodney also joined McKean in signing the Declaration and representing Delaware. Also from Delaware, John Dickinson became the penman of the Revolution. Delaware was led by John Haslet in the Continental Army known as the “Delaware Blues.” In August 1777 General Sir William Howe led a British army through Delaware on its way to capture the city of Philadelphia. The Battle of Cooch’s Bridge was fought in New County on September 3, 1777. The British occupied the Delaware River interfering with trade and commerce. Delaware supported the Constitution and on December 7th 1787 Delaware ratified it, becoming the first state ever.