Dependent in early years on indentured labor, Delaware imported more slaves as the number of English immigrants decreased with better economic conditions in England. The colony became a slave society and cultivated tobacco as a cash crop, although English immigrants continued to arrive.
Like the other middle colonies, the Lower Counties on the Delaware initially showed little enthusiasm for a break with Britain. The citizenry had a good relationship with the Proprietary government, and generally were allowed more independence of action in their Colonial Assembly than in other colonies. Merchants at the port of Wilmington had trading ties with the British.
New Castle lawyer Thomas McKean denounced the Stamp Act in the strongest terms, and Kent County native John Dickinson became the “Penman of the Revolution.” Anticipating the Declaration of Independence, Patriot leaders Thomas McKean and Caesar Rodney convinced the Colonial Assembly to declare itself separated from British and Pennsylvania rule on June 15, 1776.
Following the American Revolution, statesmen from Delaware were among the leading proponents of a strong central United States with equal representation for each state.”
The Delaware of today, while still maintaining an active agricultural sector is better known as the home of large corporations due to the ease of incorporation in Delaware coupled with favorable taxation rates. In fact, there are more corporations listing Delaware as their headquarters for purposes of regulation and taxation than there are citizens of the state.
The northern part of the state is the most heavily populated and many of those people are commuters who work in or around the nearby large city of Philadelphia.
Delaware does not have a commercial airport and its capital city, Dover, is the only state capital without commercial airline services, although it has a close competitor in this area since Pierre, South Dakota is only served by one carrier.
Delaware also has a tourist industry built around the Atlantic beaches as well as touring and tasting in the southern agricultural regions.
Put simply, Delaware is a small place with a lot to see and do despite its size.
The Delaware state flag features a field of colonial blue (arno blue Cable No. 10663 as designated designated by the Textile Color Card Association of the United States, Inc., New York) with a buff-colored diamond with the coat of arms of the state of Delaware inside the diamond.
The date immediately below the diamond, December 7, 1787, commemorates the date on which Delaware became the first state to ratify the United States Constitution. The colors of the flag are said to reflect the colors of the uniform of General George Washington.
The Delaware coat of arms adopted on January 17, 1777. It depicts a shield of horizontal green, blue, and white stripes. On the stripes are a sheaf of wheat, an ear of corn, and an ox standing on grass, all representing Delaware’s agriculture. Above the shield is a sailing ship. Supporting the shield are a farmer on the left and a soldier on the right. The state motto, below the shield, reads “Liberty and Independence”. These symbols are also included on the seal of Delaware.