Colonial history of New Jersey facts for kids
The history of New Jersey began long before it became a state. European explorers arrived in the early 1600s, and soon after, Dutch and Swedish colonists started building settlements. These early colonies were known as New Netherland and New Sweden.
In 1664, the English took control of the entire area from the Dutch and gave it the name New Jersey. England officially owned this land until the American Revolution, when the colonists fought for their independence.
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Early History of New Jersey
First People of New Jersey
Long before Europeans arrived, people lived in the New Jersey region for about 13,000 years. These early inhabitants were skilled hunters and farmers. They left behind tools like bows and arrows, showing their advanced way of life.
When European colonists first came, the land was home to the Lenape people. They called their home Scheyichbi. The Lenape lived across the valleys of the lower Hudson River and the Delaware River, including the area we now call New Jersey. Different groups of Lenape, like the Hackensack tribe and the Raritan tribe, lived in various parts of the region.
Dutch and Swedish Settlements
New Netherland Colony
In the 1600s, Dutch settlers built communities along the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay. They also had trading posts along the Delaware River. The Dutch believed in buying land from the Lenape people, even though the Lenape had different ideas about land ownership.
The Dutch colony grew slowly. In 1658, Peter Stuyvesant, a leader of New Netherland, bought the land known as Bergen Neck. In 1661, he helped establish the village of Bergen, which became the oldest town in New Jersey.
New Sweden Colony
The New Sweden colony was founded in 1638. It grew strongest under Governor Johan Björnsson Printz from 1643 to 1653. Printz helped the colony expand, building Fort Nya Elfsborg near what is now Salem. Towns like Swedesboro and Bridgeport started as part of this colony. However, in 1655, the Dutch took control of New Sweden.
English Takeover and Royal Rule
England Claims the Land
England believed it had a right to the land because of explorer John Cabot. He had explored North America in 1496, long before the Dutch arrived. In 1664, the English King Charles II gave this land to his brother, the Duke of York. The Duke then sent an English fleet, led by Colonel Richard Nicolls, to take over the Dutch colony.
In September 1664, the English fleet arrived in what is now New York Harbor. The Dutch, who had not prepared for a fight, surrendered without much resistance. Nicolls became the deputy-governor and promised the colonists they could keep their property, laws, and religious freedom.
However, the English and Dutch went to war again. In 1673, the Dutch briefly recaptured New Netherland. But by November 1674, the Treaty of Westminster officially ended the war, and the Dutch gave New Netherland back to the English.
New Jersey Becomes a Royal Colony
The Duke of York then gave the land between the Hudson River and the Delaware River to two loyal friends: Sir George Carteret and Lord Berkeley of Stratton. This area was named New Jersey, after the English Channel Island of Jersey.
These two owners, called proprietors, wanted more people to move to New Jersey. They offered land to settlers and created a document called the Concession and Agreement. This document promised religious freedom to everyone in New Jersey, which was not common under the British Church of England. In return for land, settlers paid small annual fees. They also offered land to people who brought enslaved individuals to the colony.
Philip Carteret became the first governor of New Jersey. He chose Bergen as the first capital. Over time, it became hard for the proprietors to collect their fees. So, in 1673, Lord Berkeley sold his share of New Jersey to two Quakers, Edward Billinge and John Fenwick. William Penn helped resolve a disagreement between them.
Dividing East and West Jersey
After Berkeley's sale, New Jersey was divided into two separate parts: East Jersey and West Jersey. William Penn helped create the West Jersey Concessions in 1676. This document outlined a plan for government and laws. Many of its ideas later influenced the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights.
The two colonies remained separate for 26 years, from 1678 to 1712. Deciding the exact border between East and West Jersey was often a challenge. The border line, drawn by George Keith, can still be seen in some county boundaries today. Later, more accurate maps and surveys, like the Thornton line and the Lawrence line, helped settle these border disputes.
Religious Life in Colonial New Jersey
Colonial New Jersey was a place with many different religions. This was partly because the Concession and Agreement promised religious freedom.
The Dutch Reformed Church played a big role in the growth of towns in East Jersey. Many Dutch settlers and their families spread out from the Hudson River south to the Raritan River. This area became known as the "Dutch Belt." The Dutch also helped found Queens College (now Rutgers University) in 1766, which became an important center for religious education.
Quakers were another important religious group, especially in West Jersey. They believed in peace and equality. Many Quaker meeting houses were built across the colony.
Other Christian groups, like Baptist Churches and Episcopal Churches, also established communities and churches throughout New Jersey during this time. This mix of beliefs made New Jersey a diverse place.
Slavery and its End
In 1804, New Jersey passed a law to gradually end slavery. This meant that slavery would not disappear overnight, but it set a plan for enslaved people to eventually gain their freedom over time. With this law, New Jersey joined other northern states in taking steps to abolish slavery within their borders.
Important Schools and Buildings
New Jersey still has many old buildings from the colonial period. These buildings help us remember what life was like long ago.
The oldest school site in New Jersey, which has been used continuously, was started in 1664 in Bergen Square, now part of Jersey City.
Two important colleges were founded in colonial New Jersey. The College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) started in 1746. Queens College (now Rutgers University) was founded in 1766 by Dutch Reformed ministers. It was named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III. Other schools like Rutgers Preparatory School (1766) and Newark Academy (1774) also began during this time.
New Jersey in the American Revolution
Representatives from New Jersey played a part in the Continental Congress, which was the government of the American colonies during the fight for independence.
Many important battles of the American Revolution were fought in New Jersey. This made the state very important in the colonists' victory against the British. Because of its crucial role, New Jersey earned the nicknames "Crossroads of the Revolution" and the "Capital of the Revolution."
See also
Images for kids
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Church on the Green, a Dutch Reformed Church in Hackensack
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Seaville Meeting House in Seaville
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Trenton Meeting House in Trenton
