The Lenape Indians

Lenape means “real men” but when English settlers came they renamed them “The Delaware”. When the Europeans came they

gave the Lenape a hard time but the Lenape didn’t give up.

Lenape Territory

As you can see the Lenape territory ran along much of the Atlantic coast like New Jersey, eastern New York , Delaware , and

Pennsylvania.

Before Meeting the Europeans

Before meeting the Europeans the Lenape Indians lived like this. Above is a reconstructed Delaware village in waterloo New Jersey , the

bark covered long house at the rear would have sheltered a dozen people.

Meeting the Europeans

In 1524 the Lenape encounter their first white men when Giovanni De Verrazano sails up the Atlantic Coast. They interact freely with the

Europeans and enjoy trading supplies with them when they first meet.

Infected With Small Pox

To try to control and take over the Lenape, Lord Amherst sent a task force of 450 veteran solders under Col. Henry Bouquet. Then on his instructions the fort commander invited the Delaware attackers to

present them with blankets infected with small pox spreading disease throughout their tribe.

Signing The Walking Treaty

In 1736 the Lenape Sign the walking treaty which takes away the Lenape claim to land in eastern Pennsylvania causing them to lose

more of their land. They signed nearly 800 deeds giving most of their Lenape land away.

The Peace Treaty

Later the Delaware and the Shawnee stopped fighting the British in late 1764 but peace was not formalized until July 1765. The treaty with the Delaware

was signed by sir William Johnson .

Saying Goodbye

From 1818 through 1840 all of the remaining Delaware's move to Indiana and other western states, they are forced out by white

settlers , and move farther west and north , separating the tribe forever.

By: Jacob Wilber