Chronologica by Bloomsbury Publishing

Author:Bloomsbury Publishing
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781472932952
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2016-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

DELAWARE BECOMES THE FIRST STATE OF AMERICA

Before the naval exploration of the 16th century began, the east coast of America, including the state now known as Delaware, was occupied by Native Americans. In 1631, Dutch seafarers landed at Zwaanendael and began to colonise the area and by the time the US Declaration of Independence was ratified in 1776 during the American War of Independence against Great Britain, the state of Delaware was one of the thirteen colonies along the east coast of the land which became the United States.

The other twelve states were Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, South Carolina and Virginia. However, Delaware was the first of these to sign the United States Constitution on 7 December 1787 by a vote of 30 to 0. Four days later Pennsylvania ratified the Constitution and by May 1790 the thirteen states had all endorsed it. Because it was the first state to ratify the Constitution, Delaware is simply nicknamed ‘the First State’.

Also known as the ‘Blue Hen State’ as its state bird is the blue hen, and the ‘Diamond State’ after the Founding Father Thomas Jefferson referred to it as a ‘jewel among the states’, its name originates from Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, who was born in Hampshire, England but who encouraged settlers to stay in North America in 1610. After killing many Native Americans and destroying their homes, he created an area for the settlers and was appointed as Virginia’s first colonial governor. Having returned to England, he set sail once more for Virginia, after learning of his deputy-governor’s cruelty to the new settlers, but he died on the voyage in 1618. A river, bay and even tribe of Native American’s called the Delaware Indians, are named after him.

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