Lenape Indians

Essay by melimu78College, UndergraduateA+, May 2007

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In 1609, when Henry Hudson sailed up the “Henry Hudson” river, now bearing his own name, the Lenapes had been living in what is now known as New Jersey, for more than 10,000 years. The Lenape Indians were the original natives of the areas we now call Eastern Pennsylvania, Southeastern New York State, Northern Delaware ,a small part of Southeastern Connecticut and as said already, New Jersey. Prior to the arrival of the European people, the Lenapes had peacefully survived by residing in communities where labor was communal and everybody was aware of the difficulties of the natural environment around them. The Europeans, however, did not share that same consciousness, which resulted in the Europeans devastating the Lenapes' way of life by introducing them to the fur trade, diseases, and assimilation tactics. Their lives were about to change forever.

The destroying of the Lenapes' way of life 300 years ago could surely be blamed on the introduction of the fur trade.

Henry Hudson, famous Dutch explorer, was sent out to locate a new route to the Orient. Instead, his journey had caused him to find the Delaware River and Hudson River, where he first encountered the Lenapes on shore. Ancient records of these meetings amongst the Europeans and the Natives were said to be described as relatively peaceful and harmonious, as both groups of people were pretty much amazed by one another. Soon later, the Dutch came to the realization that working with these natives would profit them economically. Here is how the powerful fur trade got it’s start. It would eventually turn the Lenape people against one another, not to mention their own families.

"The fur trade initiated by the Dutch created an awareness of territoriality among the Indians in the Hudson Valley." (ulster.com) This...