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He joined the Dutch West India Company [DWI], probably in the mid 1620's and was sent to New Netherland in 1625 to search for tradable goods other than the animal pelts which were then the major tradable product coming from New Netherland. He entered the Delaware River, flying the flag of Sweden. The expedition settled near present-day Wilmington, Delaware. He named the land New Sweden.
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Two shops led by a Dutchman named Peter Minuit entered the Delaware River, flying the flag of Sweden. The expedition settled near present-day Wilmington, Deleware. Minuit paid the Indians for the land and signed a treaty with them. He named the land New Sweden.
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Johan Rising became the new governor of of New Sweden and he made a big mistake that ended the friendly relationship between the Dutch and the Swedes. Risingb seized a Dutch settlement across the Delaware river. Of course the Dutch governor, Peter Stuyvesant, saw this as an act of war. Stuyvesant acted quicjly and sailed from New Amsterdam with 300 soldiers. Completely outumbered, the Swedes surrendered peacefully.
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The Dutch controlled the Delaware and Hudson River Valleys. England decided to enforce its earlier claims on the territory the Dutch had occupied. The English sailed into New Amsterdam (New York City) in 1664 with an overwhelming force of ships and men. The Stuyvesant's didnt want any bloodshed but also didnt want to resist the British so they hoisted a white flag over the fort. The New Netherland region along Delaware River Valley was now under British control.
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Penn's cousin had acted as governor aand had made some drastic changes to government. The government had less power then before. In 1701, Penn wrote yet another group of laws giving the people more liberty. It is called the Charter of Privileges. Under the new laws, the Assembly, made up of elected representatives, had the right to make all the laws. The role of the governor had been restricted even more.
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Pennsylvania was founded as a more "free" state then the other colonies, with regards to religion that is. The quakers were being persecuted all over America but when Pennsylvania was founded, one of the first things William Penn (gov. assigned by Charles II of the British) did was to make his state free of all religious persecution which set an example. Many colonies and countries adopted free-religion legislature soon after.
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William Penn meets with the Delaware Indians at the time of the Treaty of Shackamaxon. This treaty formalized the purchase of land in Pennsylvania and formed a relationship between the Quakers and the Indians for almost a hundred years.
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After William Penn died, land problems became even greater. James Logan, Penn's secretary, tried to settle things with the Indians. Logan convinced Penn's sons to come to Pennsylvania and settle land disputes. They did not share William Penn's ideas of dealing with indians. Within a short time, Logan met for a second time with Chief Nutimus. This time they brought a deed that called for a sale of lands "as far north as a person could walk in a day and a half."
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French and indian war picture The French and Indian War was a seven-year war between England and the American colonies, against the French and some of the Indians in North America. When the war ended, France was no longer in control of Canada. The Indians that had been threatening the American colonists were defeated. This war had become a world war.
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Indian tribes still resented the British and wanted them out of their lands. One very powerful Indian leader was an Ottowa Chief name Pontiac. Pontiac believed the great spirit was upset with his people and was punishing them because they had abandoned their traditional ways. He believed the great spirit would help them defeat the British.
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The First Continental Congress took place in Philadelphia's Carpenters Hall on September 5, 1774. Twelve of the 13 colonies sent delegates, Georgia did not send delegates. The representatives gathered to discuss their response to the British "Intolerable Acts." They met to discuss their relationship with Britain, and how to assert their rights with the British government. They wanted to appear as united colonies in their reply to Britain.
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Benjamin Franklin was the leader of the convention. With his guidence and the work of the otehr delegates, a document was completed. The Pennsylvania State Constitution of 1776 was considered an extremely radical document for its time because it placed the power of government into the hands of the common citizen, and not in the hands of the wealthy, elite. The new constitution stated that all of Pennsylvania's citizens were to be equally represented, no matter where in the state they lived.
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He drew and engraved a map of the Northwest Territory which brought him some fame and a small income. After 1785 Fitch devoted himself to developing the steamboat. August 22, 1788, John Fitch demonstrated the first successful steamboat, launching a forty-five-foot craft on the Delaware River in the presence of delegates from the Constitutional Convention. He went on to build a larger steamboat which carried passengers and freight between Philadelphia and Burlington, New Jersey.
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It was the first long-distance paved road in the United States. The Lancaster Pike made travel much faster than before. To travel by stagecoach from Philadelphia to Lancaster only took an amazing 12 hours. Before the turnpike, the trip had taken several days. The Lancaster Pike was also a great financial success. In order to get back their investment they charged a toll. It was such a success that other turnpikes were built. This was a huge accomplishment in the days of the horse and buggy.
