Historical Quick Facts
Founder(s):
Peter Minuit and the New Sweden Company
Date founded:
1638
Reason(s) founded
As a part of New Netherland, Dutch explorer Peter Minuit formed New Sweden in present-day Delaware. New Netherland was then given to the King of England’s brother, the Duke of York. He demanded and received New Sweden’s surrender. The Duke renamed it as Delaware.
Type of Colony:
Proprietary (granted to an individual or group by the British crown and were given full rights of self-government)
Type of government/role of politics:
We are a constitutional monarchy, and we share a government system with Pennsylvania, which is democratic.
Relationship between colonists and local Native Americans:
So far, our relationship with the local Natives is pretty good! For about a hundred years, we've kept a cordial trading agreement with the Lenape Indians (one of the local tribes). This mutually beneficial relationship continued even while Pennsylvania ruled us.
Views of Slavery:
Slavery is the backbone of our economy. In 1664, 20% of our Lower County population was African slaves. Because indentured servitude never really worked for us, we find that slaves have developed our economy today.
Founder(s):
Peter Minuit and the New Sweden Company
Date founded:
1638
Reason(s) founded
As a part of New Netherland, Dutch explorer Peter Minuit formed New Sweden in present-day Delaware. New Netherland was then given to the King of England’s brother, the Duke of York. He demanded and received New Sweden’s surrender. The Duke renamed it as Delaware.
Type of Colony:
Proprietary (granted to an individual or group by the British crown and were given full rights of self-government)
Type of government/role of politics:
We are a constitutional monarchy, and we share a government system with Pennsylvania, which is democratic.
Relationship between colonists and local Native Americans:
So far, our relationship with the local Natives is pretty good! For about a hundred years, we've kept a cordial trading agreement with the Lenape Indians (one of the local tribes). This mutually beneficial relationship continued even while Pennsylvania ruled us.
Views of Slavery:
Slavery is the backbone of our economy. In 1664, 20% of our Lower County population was African slaves. Because indentured servitude never really worked for us, we find that slaves have developed our economy today.