Lesson #6: Early European Settlements in Pennsylvania

Focus Questions

• Which European countries explored and settled in the Pennsylvania region?

• Why was there so much conflict over the land in this region?

• What kinds of cultural influences were left in the region?

Key Words

• Conflict• Representatives• Retaliated• Wrangle

Key Places

• Spain • Caribbean Sea• France• Canada• St. Lawrence River• Great Lakes• Mississippi River

• Sweden• Holland• England• Hudson River• Delaware River• Jamestown, VA• Plymouth, MA

European Settlers Arrive

• Late 1500s and early 1600s- European countries are mapping and exploring eastern parts of North America

• This is considered part of the “Golden Age” of exploration

• The main focus of Kings and Queens across Europe is to gain land and territory

European Settlers Arrive

• Spain was settling the Caribbean Sea region and Florida

• France explored and established settlements in northern Canada along the St. Lawrence River, the Great Lakes, and the Mississippi River

• Sweden, Holland, and England were all settling the middle part of North America (the Hudson and Delaware River area

European Settlers Arrive

• By 1600 the English had already established colonies in Jamestown, Virginia (1607) and Plymouth, Massachusetts (1620)

• The quest for riches in the “New World” (gold and fur) was the main focus

European Settlers Arrive

• European governments first attempted to buy land from the Natives

• Natives had no concept of purchasing land or land value

• Karl Marx, the father of the communism, best describes Native life in what he calls “primitive communism”

Primitive Communism

This is how humans first lived together – in small tribes. Primitive means basic. Communism means that everything was shared– food, jobs, belongings. No one owned land. Eventually a group comes to power – this leads to Feudalism…

European Settlers Arrival

• Natives believed that the land was there for everyone, and that it should be shared

• European nations were competing for supremacy… This sets up conflict in the “New World”

The “root” of the problem

• Natives do not understand the European concept of private property

• Actually, the natives were more than happy to share the land… No need to purchase

• European nations begin to argue over who should own the land

• Who gets forgotten… THE NATIVES

Origins of Pennsylvania

• 1638- Sweden establishes the first permanent settlement in what is now Wilmington, Delaware.

• Johan Printz was the governor of what was called “New Sweden”

• His capital was set up along the Delaware River, close to present day Philadelphia

Origins of Pennsylvania

• Soon after 1638, the Dutch began to build trading posts and forts in the same area as “New Sweden”

• The Swedish, feeling like the Dutch are imposing, captured a small Dutch fort

• In retaliation, the Dutch send a fleet of ships and conquered the Swedes

• The Swedes lost their colony, but chose to live under Dutch rule

Tension in North America Builds

• The Dutch now have colonies in what is now New York and Pennsylvania

• These colonies are sandwiched in between the English Massachusetts and Virginia

• The English king now becomes very concerned…

More Fighting…

• 1664- English King sends a fleet of ships and army to take over the Dutch colonies

• The Dutch did not even fire a single shot and surrendered

• This leaves just the French and English to fight over the North American land

• The King made his brother James, the Duke of York, the governor of New York region colonies

Swedish and Dutch Influence

• The Swedes and Dutch left their cultural stamp are our part of the country

• The Swedes were the first to build log cabins and introduced the cow to our colony

• The Dutch brought sleighs and ice skates to the region

• The Dutch also introduced St. Nicholas who plays a large role in our culture

Review Questions1. How did the Native Americans view of land

benefit the European settlers?2. Who was Johan Printz3. What happened to the Swedish settlements?4. What happened to the Dutch settlements?5. Who was the governor of the New York colonies?6. What cultural contributions were left by the

Dutch and Swedes?7. How did the European view of land ownership

create conflict in North America