Delaware is a U. S. state located in the mid-Atlantic or northeastern regions of the United States of America. The state takes its name fromThomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, an English nobleman andVirginia's first colonial governor. It was the first state to ratify theConstitution of the United States, doing so on 7 December 1787, and has since promoted itself as"The First State". Its capital city isDover.
In the meanwhile, the leading political dispute centered on the three lower counties of (non-Quaker) Delaware. Delaware, eager for self-government of its own, objected to all of its judges being named by the central government inPhiladelphia. This dispute, becoming prominent in late 1690, reached its high point when Pennsylvania was forced to reassume government. Now a single governor would appoint Delaware's officials. Bitter at this turn of affairs and at the idea of a tax to support aPennsylvania governor, the Delaware counties immediately decided to secede and to found their own self-governing colony. The reimposition of government had directly provoked secession by Delaware.
Governor Lloyd did his best to induce the seceding counties to return, promising, in fact, that they would never be forced by the central government to pay any of his salary and that they would be allowed full local self-government without central interference. Delaware preferred, however, to assure itself of noninterference by remaining independent.
Oh our Delaware!
Our beloved Delaware!
For the sun is shining over
our beloved Delaware,
Oh our Delaware
Our beloved Delaware!
Heres the loyal son that pledges,
Faith to good old Delaware.
~ "Our Delaware" chorus
Theofficial state song of Delaware is "Our Delaware," with lyrics byGeorge B. Hynson andDonn Devine and music byWill M. S. Brown.
