Delaware: Polity Style: 1776-2023 7/17 Dec 1682 counties of New Castle, St. Jones (Kent) and Deal (Sussex) are united with Pennsylvania upon the passing of "An Act of Union, for annexing and uniting of the counties of New Castle, Jones's, and Whorekills, alias New-Dale, to the province of Pennsylvania; and of naturalization of all foreigners, in the said province and counties annexed" [Laws of the State of Delaware, 1:8-10, Appendix] 7/17 Dec 1682 - ? Nov 1704 a part of Pennsylvania ? Nov 1704 counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex (Lower Counties) are separated from Pennsylvania and organised as a self-governing territory upon the meeting of the first Assembly of the elected representatives ? Nov 1704 - 11 Nov 1776 Government of the Counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex, upon Delaware [1] 14 Jun 1776 exercise of authority in the name of the King of Great Britain is ceased and continues in the name of the Government of the Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, upon Delaware, in accordance with the resolution of the Assembly [Proceedings of the Assembly of the Lower Counties on Delaware, 199-200] 2 Jul 1776 a resolution in favour of independence of the British colonies in North America is passed, session of the Continental Congress, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Journals of the Continental Congress, 5:506-507) 4 Jul 1776 the British colonies represented in the Continental Congress are proclaimed "free and independent states" in accordance with a declaration approved by the Congress on 4 Jul 1776, session of the Continental Congress, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Journals of the Continental Congress, 5:510-515) 11 Sep 1776 "A Declaration of Rights and Fundamental Rules of the Delaware State, formerly styled, the Government of the Counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex, upon Delaware" is passed by the Convention at New Castle [Proceedings of the Convention of the Delaware State, 13-16] 11 Sep 1776 - 1 Jan 1793 Delaware State [2] 1 Feb 1779 An act to authorize and empower the Delegates of the Delaware State to subscribe and ratify the articles of Confederation and perpetual union between the several states (passed by the House of Assembly before 1 Feb 1779, passed by the Council 1 Feb 1779) [Laws of the State of Delaware, 2:645-646; Council Minutes, 384; Journals of the Continental Congress, 13:187] 1 Mar 1781 formed part of the United States as a confederation, retaining sovereignty and independence, upon the taking effect of the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union (Journals of the Continental Congress, 19:213-223] 4 Mar 1789 formed part of the United States as a federal republic when the central government was organised starting with the meeting of the U.S. Congress in New York (Annals of Congress, House of Representatives, 1st Congress, 1st Session, 100; Annals of Congress, Senate, 1st Congress, 1st Session, 16] 1 Jan 1793 Constitution of the State of Delaware comes into operation with the meeting of the General Assembly in separate sessions of the Senate and House of Representatives at Dover 1 Jan 1793 (Constitution is passed by the Constitutional Convention 12 Jun 1792) [Minutes of the Convention of the Delaware State, 86-105; Delaware House of Representatives Journal, 1793, 3; Delaware Senate Journal, 1793, 3] 1 Jan 1793 - State of Delaware [1] Under the authority of the Governor (Lieutenant-Governor) of Pennsylvania. [2] This style becomes constitutional when the Convention passed (20 Sep 1776) "The Constitution or System of Government, agreed to and resolved upon by the Representatives in full Convention of the Delaware State, formerly styled the Government of the Counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex, upon Delaware" [Proceedings of the Convention of the Delaware State, 21-28] Last updated on: 09 Apr 2016 21:00:00
