In 1664, the burgeoning power of the British Empire began to assert its dominance in the New World. This led to the acquisition of the territory now known as Delaware, marking a pivotal moment in the region's history. This change in control was a consequence of the broader Anglo-Dutch War, during which English forces, under the command of James, the Duke of York, brother to King Charles II, captured New Amsterdam, later New York, and claimed the Dutch-held lands, including what is now Delaware. As the Dutch influence waned, the English control over Delaware laid the foundation for the subsequent cultural, political, and economic development of the region.
Following the British takeover, the governance of Delaware underwent significant changes. Despite its geographic distance from Pennsylvania, Delaware was integrated into its political structure by virtue of a grant from the Duke of York to William Penn in 1682. Penn, eager to expand his Quaker settlement, had requested the lands south of Pennsylvania, wishing to secure access to the Atlantic Ocean. The Duke of York acceded, and this led to Delaware becoming a part of Pennsylvania, although it was significantly autonomous. The territories were known collectively as the "Lower Counties" and were allowed their own assembly, further deepening their unique political identity.
Yet, the affiliation with Pennsylvania was not devoid of tension and disputes. There were recurring frictions over trade, territorial boundaries, and the administration of justice. Nevertheless, the association allowed Delaware to develop and expand under the relative stability offered by larger and more populous Pennsylvania. The English control period, marked by this unique arrangement, significantly shaped Delaware's path, nurturing the distinctive political, legal, and cultural framework that would persist even beyond the era of colonial rule. Even after gaining complete independence from Pennsylvania in 1776, Delaware continued to be influenced by the institutional and societal structures that took shape during the period of English control.
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