| Before the arrival of Europeans, the area that is today | | | | Delaware was initially reluctant to break with Britain. |
| the state of Delaware was home to the Unami | | | | Delaware did however provide one of the premier |
| League (also known as "Delaware") and Nanticoke | | | | regiments of the Continental Army, known as the |
| Native American groups. The Unami League lived in a | | | | "Delaware Blues" and nicknamed the "Blue Hen |
| settled agricultural and hunting society. | | | | Chickens". Following the Revolution, Delaware was the |
| The Dutch were the first Europeans to arrive in | | | | first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. |
| present day Delaware, and established a trading post | | | | Delaware was founded as a slave state. Various local |
| near Lewesin 1633. However, all the settlers were | | | | attempts were made to abolish slavery in the state, |
| wiped out within a year following a dispute with the | | | | but all failed even though there were relatively few |
| Native Americans. In 1638, a Swedish colony was | | | | slaves in Delaware. Nevertheless, despite being a |
| established near Wilmington. In 1651, tbe Dutch returned, | | | | slave site, Delaware remained in the Union during the |
| established a new fort near the site of present day | | | | American Civil War (1861 to 1865), and was the only |
| New Castle, and in 1655 absorbed the entire Swedish | | | | slave state not to assemble Confederate regiments or |
| colony. | | | | militia groups (although some of Delaware's citizens did |
| In 1664, the Dutch were evicted by the British under | | | | fight on the Confederate side in Maryland or Virginia |
| James, the Duke of York. William Penn wanted an | | | | regiments). |
| outlet to the sea for his Pennsylvania province, so | | | | Slavery was finally abolished in Delaware at the same |
| leased the " Lower Counties on the Delaware" from | | | | time it was abolished in the country as a whole: when |
| the Duke. As a result, from 1682 to 1704, Delaware | | | | the 13th Amendment took effect in December 1865. |
| and Pennsylvania had a combined General Assembly. | | | | After the abolition of slavery, the state legislature |
| Even after 1704, Penn and his heirs remained the | | | | adopted a policy of segregation including poll tax and |
| Proprietors of both Delaware and Pennsylvania, and | | | | Jim Crow laws. Only in the mid 1950s did these |
| always appointed the same person as Governor for | | | | restrictions begin to disappear, with the integration of |
| both colonies. | | | | the school system. |
| During the American Revolution (1775 to 1783), | | | | |