The Duke of York Creates New Jersey
Explain how the Duke of York divided his New York grant to create New Jersey as a separate proprietary colony with religious tolerance in Colonial America in Grade 8 history.
Key Concepts
After England took control of New Netherland, the Duke of York became the proprietor of the new colony, New York. He decided the colony was too large to manage by himself.
The Duke gave the land between the Hudson and Delaware Rivers to two friends, Lord John Berkeley and Sir George Carteret. This new proprietary colony was named New Jersey.
Common Questions
How was New Jersey created?
The Duke of York gave a portion of his New York grant to two proprietors, Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret, who established New Jersey as a separate colony.
What made New Jersey attractive to settlers?
The proprietors offered religious freedom and representative government to attract settlers, making New Jersey more tolerant than many other colonies of the era.
Why did the Duke of York divide his colonial grant?
The Duke found New York too large to manage alone and gave away part of the territory to friends and allies who could develop and govern the area.