Who were the first settlers in Delaware?
The first Europeans to settle in Delaware were the Dutch in 1631. However, they soon got into a fight with the local Native Americans and the Dutch settlers were wiped out. A few years later in 1638, some Swedish settlers established the first permanent settlement at Fort Christina. Today this settlement is Wilmington, the largest city in Delaware.
What is the history of Delaware County?
The history of Delaware as a political entity dates back to the early colonization of North America by European-American settlers. It is made up of three counties established since 1638, before the time of William Penn. Each had its own settlement history. Their early inhabitants tended to identify more closely with the county than...
Who are the indigenous people of Delaware?
The Indigenous People of Delaware The names of the Delaware tribes included the Lenape (Delaware) and Powhatan tribe. Delaware was inhabited nearly 10,000 years ago, and a succession of various cultures occupied the area until the first European contact.
What is the Delaware tribe of Indians first recognition?
First recognition. After dealing with the United States on a government-to-government basis, the ancestors of the Delaware Tribe of Indians agreed in 1867 to relocation to Oklahoma, to live within the Cherokee Nation. The Delaware Tribe of Indians operated autonomously within the lands of the Cherokee Nation.
Who were the first inhabitants of Delaware?
Present-day Delaware, at the time of the first European settlements, was occupied by the Nanticoke in the southwest regions and the Lenni Lenape or Delaware in the north. Delaware is not a Native American word.
Who was the first person to discover Delaware?
Delaware's history is a long and proud one. Early explorations of our coastline were made by the Spaniards and Portuguese in the sixteenth century, by Henry Hudson in 1609 under the auspices of the Dutch, by Samuel Argall in 1610, by Cornelius May in 1613, and by Cornelius Hendricksen in 1614.
Who were the people in the Delaware colony?
The Dutch, the Swedish, the Dutch Again, and the English The Dutch first settled Delaware in 1631, although all of the original settlers were killed in a disagreement with local Indians. Seven years later, the Swedes set up a colony and trading post at Fort Christina in the northern part of Delaware.
Who lived in Delaware before European settlers?
Native Americans People have inhabited the land that is today the state of Delaware for thousands of years. Before the Europeans arrived, there were two main Native American tribes that lived in the area: the Lenni-Lenape (also called the Delaware) and the Nanticoke.
Who explored Delaware?
The Spanish and Portuguese are believed to have made explorations of the Delaware coastline in the early 16th century. Henry Hudson, an English explorer hired by the Dutch East India Company, discovered what would become known as the Delaware River and the Delaware Bay in 1609.
Who founded Delaware and why?
The Dutch founded the first European settlement in Delaware at Lewes (then called Zwaanendael) in 1631. They quickly set up a trade in beaver furs with the Native Americans, who within a short time raided and destroyed the settlement after a disagreement between the two groups.
Who was Delaware's first leader?
"William Penn is the father of representative government in Delaware. In 1681 this idealistic English Quaker became proprietor of two colonies in America: Pennsylvania and the Three Lower Counties on Delaware.
What is the history of Delaware?
Delaware was one of the Thirteen Colonies which revolted against British rule in the American Revolution. After the Revolution began in 1776, the three counties became "The Delaware State", and in 1776 that entity adopted its first constitution, declaring itself to be the "Delaware State".
Who was a famous person in the Delaware Colony?
Alexander d'Hinoyossa: One of the most influential men in Colonial Delaware. Alexander d'Hinoyossa was perhaps the most colorful and influential man in the history of Colonial Delaware, best known for surrendering the Dutch colony along the Delaware River to the British Crown 350 years ago.
Who came before the Lenape?
Paleo-Indian Period (10,000 - 12,000 years ago) Archeologists have evidence that the Lenape Indians were preceded by a primitive people called Paleo-Indians. They were the first people to come onto the North American continent.
Where did the Lenape Indians come from?
The Lenni-Lenape (or simply “Lenape”) are the ancient root of many other American Indian nations. The Lenape homeland included all of New Jersey, northern Delaware, eastern Pennsylvania, and southeastern New York. The Nanticoke are the people of the Delmarva between the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays.
Where did the Delaware Tribe originate from?
New JerseyThe Delaware natives, also called the Lenape, originally lived along the Delaware River in New Jersey. They speak a form of the Algonquian language and are thus related to the Miami natives, Ottawa natives, and Shawnee natives.
Who was Delaware named after?
Thomas West, Lord De La WarrHow did Delaware get its name? In 1610 explorer Samuel Argall named the Delaware River and Bay for the governor of Virginia, Thomas West, Lord De La Warr. The state of Delaware takes its name from the river and bay.
Is Delaware the oldest state?
Delaware was one of the Thirteen Colonies that took part in the American Revolution. On December 7, 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the Constitution of the United States, and has since been known as The First State.
How old is Delaware?
Delaware became a state in 1776, just two months after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The capital was moved from New Castle to Dover in 1777. Delaware's first constitution was adopted in 1792.
What are 3 interesting facts about Delaware?
Interesting Facts About DelawareDelaware is the second smallest state, with a land area of 1,948 sq. ... Delaware is the least populated state in America.With an average altitude of 60 ft. ... 67.8% of Fortune 500 companies are Delaware entities.There are more corporate entities formed in Delaware than residents.More items...
What was Delaware's history?
Their early inhabitants tended to identify more closely with the county than the colony or state. Large parts of southern and western Delaware were thought to have been in Maryland until 1767. All of the state has existed in the wide economic and political circle of Philadelphia .
What tribes lived in Delaware?
Before Delaware was settled by Europeans, the area was home to the Lenni Lenape (also known as the Delaware), Susquehanna, Nanticoke, and other Native American tribes. After the Swedish then the Dutch colonists settled there, the native peoples traded with the settlers for a half century.
How many counties are there in Delaware?
The history of Delaware as a political entity dates back to the early colonization of North America by European-American settlers. It is made up of three counties established since 1638, before the time of William Penn. Each had its own settlement history.
What was William Penn's name for the New York colony?
The area was administered from New York as a part of James' New York colony. William Penn was granted "Pennsylvania", which grant specifically excluded New Castle or any of the lands within 12 miles (19 km) of it. Nevertheless, Penn wanted an outlet to the sea from his new province.
How many prisoners were in prison in 1862?
"In its first year of operation in 1862, the population varied from 3,434 prisoners in July to only 123 later that year due to routine prisoner exchanges between the North and the South.".
Which state was the first to ratify the Constitution?
Delaware was the first state to ratify the United States Constitution . Éleuthère Irénée du Pont arrived in America from France in 1800 and founded the young United States' largest gunpowder factory on the banks of the Brandywine River just north of Wilmington in 1804.
Where was the Battle of Cooch's Bridge?
The Battle of Cooch's Bridge was the only major military engagement of the Revolution that took place on Delaware soil. The engagement began August 30, 1777, about 2 miles (3 km) south of Cooch's Bridge (located in present-day Newark ). The Americans harried the lead forces of the British Army.
When was the first European colony in Delaware?
Interesting Facts. The first European colony in the Delaware Valley was established by Swedish settlers in 1638. Between 1698 and 1699, the descendants of these early colonists constructed Old Swedes Church (also known as Holy Trinity Church), which is one of the oldest houses of worship in America still in use.
What is Delaware's state?
Interesting Facts. The first of the original 13 states to ratify the federal Constitution, Delaware occupies a small niche in the Boston–Washington, D.C., urban corridor along the Middle Atlantic seaboard. It is the second smallest state in the country and one of the most densely populated.
What is Delaware Bay known for?
Delaware Bay is home to more horseshoe crabs than anywhere else in the world. Mostly unchanged for the past 300 million years, these “living fossils” were collected by Native American Indians for food and used as fertilizer—a practice that was passed along to early colonial settlers and continued until the 1960s.
How tall are the observation towers in Delaware?
After the onset of World War II, several concrete observation towers ranging between 39 and 75 feet tall were constructed along Delaware’s coast to protect the bay and coastal towns from German warships. Eleven towers remain in Delaware and two remain in Cape May, NJ.
What did the Delaware people hunt?
These people hunted, fished, and farmed crops such as beans , squash, and corn. For homes they made wigwams from tree branches, grass, and mud. Delaware State Capitol by Joshua Daniel Franklin. Europeans Arrive. In 1609, Henry Hudson explored the Delaware Bay while trying to find a passageway to China.
Why are Delaware hens called blue hens?
They became known for their fierce fighting and earned the nickname the "Blue Hen Chicks" after the blue feathered fighting gamecock. The blue hen later became the Delaware state bird. After the Revolutionary War, Delaware was quick to ratify the new U.S. Constitution and join the Union.
What happened in 1655?
1655 - The Dutch take over from the Swedes. 1664 - The British take over and Delaware becomes part of New York. 1717 - The city of Dover is established. 1776 - Delegate Caesar Rodney rides through the night to vote in favor of the Declaration of Independence. 1777 - Dover becomes the capital city.
What were the Native Americans called before the Europeans arrived?
Before the Europeans arrived, there were two main Native American tribes that lived in the area: the Lenni-Lenape (also called the Delaware) and the Nanticoke. These people hunted, fished, and farmed crops such as beans, squash, and corn.
When did Delaware get its name?
This is how the state eventually got the name Delaware. The first Europeans to settle in Delaware were the Dutch in 1631. However, they soon got into a fight with the local Native Americans and the Dutch settlers were wiped out.
When did the Delaware people vote for independence?
When it came time to vote for the Declaration of Independence in 1776, even the delegates were split with two delegates in favor of independence and one against.
When did Delaware become part of Pennsylvania?
Then, in 1664, a British fleet arrived and conquered the region, naming it New York. Delaware became part of the Pennsylvania colony in 1682 and was known as the "Lower Counties on the Delaware.". By 1704, Delaware largely had its own government, although it shared a governor with Pennsylvania . American Revolution.
Where is the Delaware Tribe?
1973. The Delaware Tribe of Indians, formerly known as the Cherokee Delaware or the Eastern Delaware, based in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, is one of three federally recognized tribes of Delaware Indians in the United States, the others being with the Delaware Nation based in Anadarko, Oklahoma, ...
What were the three social divisions of the Delaware?
Traditionally the Delaware were divided into the Munsee, Unami, and Unalachtigo, three social divisions determined by language and location.
When did the Delaware Tribe of Indians regain their federal recognition?
Second recognition. The Delaware Tribe of Indians regained their federal recognition by the Secretary of the Interior in 1991, when the BIA rescinded its 1979 decision. However, the Cherokee Nation disagreed with the decision and filed suit against the BIA and the Secretary of their decision. The Cherokee Nation's position was upheld in court, ...
When did the Delaware Tribe of Indians get removed from Oklahoma?
Then in 1979, BIA revoked the Delaware Tribe of Indians' status, citing that the removal to Oklahoma in 1879 with the Cherokees effectively placed the tribe under the authority of the Cherokee Nation. The BIA had determined that the Department of the Interior would generally engage in government-to-government relations with ...
Is Delaware a federal tribe?
On July 28, 2009, The United States Department of the Interior notified the tribal office in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, that the Delaware are again a federally recognized tribe.
Overview
Native Americans
Before Delaware was settled by Europeans, the area was home to the Lenni Lenape (also known as Delaware), Susquehanna, Nanticoke, and other Native American tribes. After the Swedish, Dutch colonists settled Delaware, with the native people trading with Delaware settlers for around a half-century.
Dutch and Swedish colonies
The Delaware watershed was claimed by the English based on the explorations of John Cabot in 1497, Captain John Smith, and others, and was given the name held as a title by Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, the governor of Virginia from 1610 until 1618. At that time the area was considered to be part of the Virginia colony.
British colony
It was not long, though, before the Dutch too were forcibly removed by the English, who asserted their earlier claim. In 1664, James, the Duke of York and brother of King Charles II, outfitted an expedition that easily ousted the Dutch from both the Delaware and Hudson rivers, leaving the Duke of York the proprietary authority in the entire area.
But Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, Proprietor of Maryland, claimed a competing grant to land…
American Revolution
Delaware was one of the Thirteen Colonies which revolted against British rule in the American Revolution. After the Revolution began in 1776, the three counties became "The Delaware State", and in 1776 that entity adopted its first constitution, declaring itself to be the "Delaware State". Its first governors went by the title of "President".
The Battle of Cooch's Bridge was the only major military engagement of the Revolution that took …
1783–1860
Delaware was the first state to ratify the United States Constitution.
Éleuthère Irénée du Pont arrived in America from France in 1800 and founded the young United States' largest gunpowder factory on the banks of the Brandywine River just north of Wilmington in 1804. His DuPont firm (now the world's fourth largest chemical company) was the U.S. military's largest supplier of gunpowder by the beginning of the Civil War, and his descendants, the du Pon…
Delaware in the Civil War
Slavery had been a divisive issue in Delaware for decades before the American Civil War began. Opposition to slavery in Delaware, imported from Quaker-dominated Pennsylvania, led many slaveowners to free their slaves; half of the state's black population was free by 1810, and more than 90% were free by 1860. This trend also led pro-slavery legislators to restrict free black organizati…
1865–1899
After the Civil War, Democratic governments continued to dominate the South and imposed explicitly white supremacist regimes in the former slave states. The Delaware legislature declared blacks second-class citizens in 1866 and restricted their voting rights despite the Fifteenth Amendment, ensuring continued Democratic success in the state throughout most of the nineteenth century. Fearful that the 1875 Civil Rights Act passed by Congress might establish so…