Delaware
Originally governed by Pennsylvania, Delaware was a small colony below New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and the credit of its discovery goes to explorer Henry Hudson in 1609. Delaware became one of the most unique colonies out of all, becoming the first to ratify the Constitution, becoming a slave state that joined the Union, and nurturing a huge chemical industry as it developed (25).
Geographic Features (10)
Delaware shared many geographic similarities to the other Middle Colonies, including being close to the Susquehanna, Delaware, and Hudson Rivers; the Delaware River was especially close. It also had large amounts of wildlife and trees, allowing for fur trade, lumbering, shipbuilding, and other industries. Northern glaciers brought fertile soil to the region, and it had a mild climate, longer growing season, and a decent amount of sunshine and rain for agriculture. These conditions made the colony ideal for agriculture and allowed them to produce large amounts of wheat, oats, barley, and rye.
Social and Religious Features (10)
Like Pennsylvania, Delaware had a large Quaker population, and was religiously tolerant, having the same government as Pennsylvania until the American Revolution. Furthermore, it contained many different ethnic groups of people, and a diverse set of cultures. On the other hand, unlike Pennsylvania, Delaware possessed very strained relations between the middle and upper class in its society. While the upper class attempted to reproduce the political and social power they held in European society, the sheer numbers of the middle class, who began to resent the claims the upper class made to objects, combined with democratic beliefs and traditions blocked off the upper class from subjugating and controlling the middle class.
Political Features (10)
Delaware's government was very similar to Pennsylvania's government, as Delaware was governed by Pennsylvania until the American Revolution. For example, the Charter of Liberties created by the citizens of Pennsylvania also extended out to Delaware, establishing a representative house of government. Delaware also gave landowners the right to vote and had no tax-supported state church, creating a separation between the church and state. Also, as mentioned before, the people of Delaware had democratic beliefs and traditions that may have influenced their democratic form of government, and their government was less aristocratic than those of the New England and Southern Colonies.
Economic Features (10)
Delaware's economy was similar to that of the other Middle Colonies as a result of their similar geographic features. It was a member of the "Bread Colonies", or Middle Colonies, who were large exporters of grain. They mainly grew wheat, oats, barley and rye, but there was also some farming of fruits and vegetables in Delaware. It also possessed industry along with its agriculture, with its forests providing a basis for shipbuilding and lumbering and its wildlife allowing for hunting, trapping, and fur trade. In shipping and commerce, its proximity to water allowed it some success, but it did not become a major trading center.