Northeast
Delaware
“First State of Union and Industry”
Delaware’s small size has never limited its historical importance. Located between the Chesapeake, Philadelphia, and the Atlantic world, it developed through Dutch, Swedish, and English colonization, maritime trade, and a strong tradition of civic leadership. Delaware became famous as the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution on December 7, 1787, earning the enduring title “First State.” Its delegates championed the small-state principle that helped produce equal representation in the Senate — a landmark achievement in democratic governance. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Delaware’s economy was transformed by the DuPont chemical industry, rail connections, corporate law, and financial services, making it a center of American innovation and enterprise.
Role in the Founding Era
Delaware played an important founding-era role as the first state to ratify the Constitution in 1787. Its political importance at the Constitutional Convention came from small-state concerns over representation, helping shape the compromise that created equal representation in the Senate. Delaware’s founding-era identity joined support for union with the realities of slavery, agriculture, and Atlantic commerce.
Key Historical Themes
Major Events Connected to Delaware
Declaration of Independence
The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, announcing the separation of the thirteen colonies from Britain and articulating the foundational principles of American democracy.
Articles of Confederation Ratified
The Articles of Confederation, America's first governing document, were ratified — creating a loose union of states that proved too weak to govern effectively and was replaced by the Constitution in 1788.
U.S. Constitution Signed
Delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the United States Constitution, creating the framework for the federal government that has governed the nation for over 235 years.
Bill of Rights Ratified
The first ten amendments to the Constitution — the Bill of Rights — were ratified, guaranteeing fundamental individual freedoms including speech, religion, press, assembly, and due process.
13th Amendment — Abolition of Slavery
The 13th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, formally abolishing slavery throughout the United States — completing what the Emancipation Proclamation had begun.
14th Amendment — Equal Protection and Citizenship
The 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States and established equal protection under the law — overturning Dred Scott and laying the foundation for modern civil rights law.
About Delaware
Delaware is small in size but important in American history and business. Located on the Atlantic Coastal Plain, it has beaches, farmland, rivers, and cities tied to the Delaware Bay and Delaware River. Wilmington is the largest city, while Dover is the capital.
Delaware was home to Native peoples including the Lenape before Dutch, Swedish, and English settlement. It became one of the original thirteen colonies and is famously known as the First State because it was the first to ratify the U.S. Constitution on December 7, 1787. Its location between the Mid-Atlantic and the South gave it a distinct border-state character.
Agriculture, shipping, milling, and later chemical manufacturing shaped Delaware's economy. The DuPont company, founded near Wilmington, became one of the nation's major industrial firms and influenced science, manufacturing, and the state's economic development.
Today, Delaware is known for corporate law, banking, beaches, poultry farming, and a favorable business climate. Many U.S. corporations are legally incorporated there because of its court system and business statutes. Despite its small size, Delaware has a strong identity built around colonial history, coastal tourism, and its role in American commerce.
Presidents with Delaware Ties
Significant historical connection — not necessarily born here
Ask Dr. Hart about Delaware
AI Historical Guide · America 250 Atlas
Dr. Abigail Hart can help you explore Delaware's history, key events, role in the American story, and connections to presidents and national milestones.