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This page tells about the history of the Delaware Colony.
Delaware Colony
The Delaware Colony changed hands several times before becoming one of the 13 English colonies. Dutch, Swedish, and English settlers all claimed the region, and Delaware later became closely connected to Pennsylvania before developing its own separate colonial government.
The Dutch, the Swedish, the Dutch Again, and the English
The Dutch first attempted to settle Delaware in 1631, although the original settlement was soon destroyed after conflict with local Native peoples. Seven years later, Swedish settlers established a colony and trading post at Fort Christina in the northern part of present-day Delaware. The area around Fort Christina later developed into Wilmington. In 1651, the Dutch built a fort near present-day New Castle, and by 1655 they had taken control of the Swedish settlements and reincorporated the region into New Netherland. In 1664, English forces took control of New Netherland, including the Delaware region.
Connected to Pennsylvania
After William Penn received the charter for Pennsylvania, he wanted access to the Delaware River and Delaware Bay. The Duke of York transferred control of the territory along the western shore of Delaware Bay to Penn. These lands became known as the Lower Counties on the Delaware. Although Delaware and Pennsylvania shared the same proprietor for many years, the Lower Counties eventually developed their own separate legislature while remaining connected to Pennsylvania under Penn's family.
A Long Border Dispute
Control of the Delaware region also contributed to a long-running boundary dispute between the Penn family and the Calvert family of Maryland. Maryland's proprietors believed that parts of the Delaware territory fell within their original charter. The disagreement continued for generations before the boundaries between Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware were gradually settled during the eighteenth century. The famous Mason-Dixon Line, surveyed in the 1760s, helped establish the boundary between Pennsylvania and Maryland and clarified important portions of the surrounding borders.
Why it mattered: Delaware's history reflected the international competition for control of North America, and its connections to Dutch, Swedish, English, and Pennsylvania settlement gave the colony a distinctive identity.
Delaware Colony Articles and Activities
- Delaware Colony Reading Passage and Critical Thinking Multiple Choice Questions - Printable
- Delaware Colony Reading Passage and Critical Thinking Multiple Choice Questions - Online
- Who Were the Quakers? Reading Passage and Critical Thinking Multiple Choice Questions - Printable
- Who Were the Quakers? Reading Passage and Critical Thinking Multiple Choice Questions - Online
13 Colonies Navigation
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