founders are Dutch traders and Peter Minuit By Courtney and Trevor The Delaware Colony (1638) founders are Dutch traders and Peter Minuit

Native People The Lenni Lenape were the first people. In the winter they lived in longhouses. In the summer they lived in wigwams. Had sweat lodges for treating sick people. 100 to 200 people in one tribe. They lived off the land. Planted beans, corn, and squash. Gathered wild nuts and berries. They hunted deer, bear, and turkeys. They believed that everyone owned the land. Lenni Lenape means “original people. Settlers gave tools and cloth to them in exchange for land.

Early Settlers The Dutch were the first European settlers to settle along the Delaware river. Peter Minuit claimed the area and called it New Sweden. The Dutch started a village and called it Zwaanendael. The village lasted less than a year. The Lenni Lenape killed the people and burned down their village. The Swedes built fort Christina. The Dutch attacked fort Christina. The English thought that Delaware should be theirs. Delaware had been ruled by many countries.

Life In The Colonies Farmers in Delaware grew wheat, tobacco, beans, oats, and peas. Planted fruit trees and raised live stock. Craftsmen built furniture. Coopers used oak to make barrels. Men and women divided the work. Men built homes and hunted.

Life in The Colonies Pg.2 Women cooked and cleaned. Carpenters made shingles. Delaware's first teacher arrived in 1658. Flour mills and paper mills were important, too. Colonists turned wood into paper.

Work and Trade in the Colony The first African slave was brought from the Caribbean to Christina in 1655. Everyone helped farm. The first teacher arrived in 1658. Coopers used oak to make barrels. The women were responsible for tending the corn fields and making sure there was a good harvest.

Work and Trade in the Colony Pg.2 Men built homes, farmed, and hunted. Women cooked and cleaned. Carpenters made shingles. Craftsmen built furniture. The women were responsible for tending the corn fields and making sure there was a good harvest.

Colonies Exports Farmers sold their goods to Europeans and other people in their colony. Farmers grew wheat, beans, tobacco, oats, and peas to sell. Delaware's first African slave was brought from the Caribbean to Fort Christina in 1639. Some agricultural exports are grain, horses, meat, and tobacco. Some industrial exports are barrel staves, bread, cloth, flour, and iron. Natural resource exports are fur and lumber.

Community and Religion in the Colony Most early settlers had been Swedish Lutherans. The top three religious groups were Catholics, Lutherans, and Mennonites. Samuel Argall explored Delaware Bay and named it for the governor of Virginia Baron De La Warr. Lutherans met in secret because the Dutch changed the religion.

Community and Religion in the Colony Pg.2 Delaware was part of Pennsylvania until the Revolutionary War. Pennsylvania’s government was made up of representatives from each county. Religious freedom brought people to Delaware. William Penn allowed people to make their own laws. The freedom of self-rule brought more settlers to Delaware.

Becoming a State 1st State 1st State Great Britain allowed Delaware to self-rule for over 60 years. Everyone wanted independence except for George Read. They finally got independence. Caesar Rodney casted the final vote. Caesar Rodney voted for independence.

Colony Gained Statehood On July 4, 1776 Delaware declared free of British rule. On December 7, 1783 Delaware became the first state to approve independence. It was the first state in the United States of America. Americans won their freedom in 1783 after eight years of fighting. Four years later, state leaders wrote a plan for a strong central government.

Fun Facts!!! The population in 1770 was 35,500 people. Some religious faiths are Catholic, Lutheran, Dutch Reform, and Mennonite. Delaware’s nickname is the first state! The location is in the middle colonies. The fist settlements are the Zwaanendael and Fort Christina. Delaware is named after De La Warr.