1632 - Settlement at Zwaanendael is destroyed by Indians

1638 - Swedish settlement led by Peter Minuet starting the the New Sweden Colony

1639 - The first African on the Delaware, Black Anthony, is brought from the Caribbean

1655 - The Dutch defeat the Swedes on the Delaware, ending the New Sweden Colony. Delaware becomes a part of New Netherland

1663 - 1664 - Anglo-Dutch Wars in disputes over rights to slaves, ivory, and gold and domination of the area

1664 - Sir Robert Carr drives the Dutch off the Delaware and Delaware becomes an English colony

1681 - William Penn was granted land from England, that included Delaware, and established the colony of Pennsylvania

For interesting information  refer to Facts about the Delaware Colony

Facts about the History of Delaware History - 1700's

• 1756 - 1763 - The Seven Years War (French and Indian War) due to disputes over land is won by Great Britain. France gives England all French territory east of the Mississippi River, except New Orleans. The Spanish give up east and west Florida to the English in return for Cuba

• 1763 - 1767 Legal battles were settled by a survey, which resulted in the Mason-Dixon line, surveyed by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon

• 1775 - 1783 - The American Revolution creates the United States of America. The Revolution was due to the British burden of taxes and total power to legislate any laws governing the American colonies

• July 4, 1776 - United States Declaration of Independence

• July 10, 1778 - France declares war against Britain and makes an alliance with the American revolutionary forces

• September 3, 1783 - The Treaty of Paris is signed by the victorious United States and the defeated Great Britain

Facts about the History of Delaware History - The Early 1800's

• 1812 - 1815 - The War of 1812 between U.S. and Great Britain, ended in a stalemate but confirmed America's Independence

Facts about the History of Delaware History - The American Civil War

• 1861 - 1865 The American Civil War. In 1859 John Brown raided Harpers Ferry and set in motion events that led directly to the outbreak of the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln, a known opponent of slavery, was elected president and in 1861 the South Secedes. The initial Secession of South Carolina was followed by the secession of Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. These eleven states eventually formed the Confederate States of America. The bombardment of Fort Sumter was the opening engagement of the American Civil War. The surrender of Robert E. Lee on April 9 1865 signalled the end of the Confederacy.

• 1865 December 6 - The Abolishment of Slavery. The Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S Constitution is ratified, thus officially abolishing slavery

• 1898-1901 The Spanish American War. On December 10, 1898 the Treaty of Paris the US annexes Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines.

Origin of the name

• Named after the Delaware River whose name was given by Captain Samuel Argall from that of Sir Thomas West (Lord de la Warr) who was Virginia Company's first governor