Middle Colonies
New York
In 1621 a group of Dutch merchants formed the Dutch West India Company to trade in the Americas. Their main settlement was New Amsterdam, located on Manhattan Island (present day New York City). In 1664 the colony was surrendered to the British and was named after its owner, Duke of York. Settlers were given freedom of religion and eventually a representative legislature.
Delaware
Settlers from Sweden came to Delaware in 1638, in hopes of expanding their trade. It was originally the southernmost part of Pennsylvania, but the settlers wanting more political freedom asked to set up their own assembly. It became the independent colony of Delaware in 1704 when it was allowed to form its own legislature.
New Jersey
In 1644 the Duke of York gave the southern part of his colony to Lord John Berkeley and Sir George Carteret. These two men named the colony New Jersey and hoped to make an economic gain from the colony. To attract settlers, the owners promised freedom of religion, trial by jury, and a representative assembly. New Jersey, however, has no natural harbors and was unable to develop a major city. Berkeley and Carteret did not make any money, and sold the land back to the king in 1702.
Pennsylvania
In 1681 the English king gave the land grant of Pennsylvania to William Penn. Penn was a Quaker and had been imprisoned for his different religious beliefs. Penn desired to set up a colony where all people would be allowed to worship in any way they chose. He made Pennsylvania a haven for the Quaker people suffering from religious persecution. Penn even named the capital Philadelphia, which means “City of Brotherly Love”. Pennsylvania also offered political freedom and self-government.