The land that is today the state of New Jersey has been inhabited for thousands of years. Prior to Europeans arriving, the Lenni-Lenape Native Americans lived in New Jersey. They hunted, fished, and farmed crops such as corn and beans for food. Another name for the Lenape tribe is the Delaware Indians or the Delaware Nation.
Edison in his NJ laboratory from the Library of Congress
Europeans Arrive
The first European to explore New Jersey was Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano who explored the coastline in 1524. However, the land was claimed by the Dutch in 1609 when explorer Henry Hudson sailed up the Hudson River. The land was called the New Netherlands and soon Dutch and Swedish settlers moved into the area, trading with the Lenape Indians for beaver furs.
Colonization
Other people from Europe moved into the area including the English. Soon there were more English settlers than Dutch. In 1664, an English fleet sailed into New York Harbor and took over the region. The area of New Jersey was given to Lord John Berkeley and Sir George Carteret. The land was divided into East and West Jersey with the west being settled mostly by Quakers and the east by Puritans and wealthy plantation owners. The colony was united as one in 1702 and Edward Hyde became the first governor of the New Jersey colony.
American Revolution
In 1776, the thirteen American colonies revolted against Britain and declared their independence. Because New Jersey was between New York and Philadelphia, it became the site for many Revolutionary War battles. The most famous battle took place on Christmas in 1776 when George Washington and the Continental Army crossed the Delaware River to capture Trenton.
Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Leutze
George Washington fought other battles in New Jersey during the war including the Battle of Princeton and the Battle of Monmouth. In 1783, Princeton became the capital of the United States for a few short months while the Continental Congress met at Princeton University.
Becoming a State
After the Revolutionary War, the American colonies created a new country called the United States. New Jersey ratified the new Constitution on December 18, 1787 and became the third state to join the Union. It was also the first state to sign the Bill of Rights in 1789. Trenton was made the official capital of New Jersey in 1790.
Hindenburg Disaster from the US Navy
Timeline
1524 - Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano is the first European to visit New Jersey.
1609 - Henry Hudson arrives and claims the land for the Dutch.
1660 - The Dutch establish Bergen as the first European settlement in New Jersey. The Dutch colony is called the New Netherlands.
1664 - The British take over control of the New Netherlands from the Dutch and change the name to New Jersey.
1678 - New Jersey is divided into East and West Jersey with the Quakers in the west and the Puritans in the east.
1776 - George Washington crosses the Delaware River and defeats the Hessians at Trenton.
1783 - The Continental Congress meets at Princeton.
1787 - New Jersey ratifies the U.S. Constitution and becomes the 3rd state.
1790 - Trenton becomes the capital.
1804 - New Jersey becomes the last northern state to abolish slavery.
1846 - The first professional baseball game is played in Hoboken.
1876 - Thomas Edison opens his famous lab in Menlo Park.
1884 - Grover Cleveland is elected the 22nd President of the United States.
1912 - New Jersey governor Woodrow Wilson is elected the 28th President of the United States.
1921 - The first Miss America pageant is held in Atlantic City.
1937 - The airship Hindenburg crashes and bursts into flames at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station.
