Peter Minuit and the Founding of New Sweden
Peter Minuit was a man who loved adventure and knew how to lead. Born in Germany, he became famous as a governor for the Dutch West India Company, even helping to found New Amsterdam, which we now know as New York City. But Minuit's story did not end there. In the 1630s, the Kingdom of Sweden wanted to join the race to build colonies in North America. They needed someone who knew the waters and the land. Because of his great experience, Sweden hired Minuit to lead a very special expedition to the New World.
In late 1637, Minuit prepared two ships for the long journey: the Kalmar Nyckel (Key of Kalmar) and a smaller ship called the Fogel Grip (Griffin Bird). The ships were loaded with supplies, tools, and Swedish and Dutch settlers looking for a new life. They set sail from Sweden, heading out into the cold, rough waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The journey was long and difficult. For months, the passengers lived in cramped, damp quarters, tossing and turning on the stormy waves. But Minuit was a skilled navigator, and he kept the ships on course.
- Expedition:
- A journey made by a group of people for a specific purpose, such as exploring new lands.
- Navigator:
- A person who plans, directs, and controls the course of a ship or other vehicle.
- Tributary:
- A smaller river or stream that flows into a larger river.
- Wharf:
- A structure or flat area built along the shore where ships can load and unload.
- Colony:
- A settlement created by people who leave their home country to live in a new land, while remaining under the control of their homeland.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Where was Peter Minuit born?
- 2What famous city, originally known as New Amsterdam, did Peter Minuit help found before working for Sweden?
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About this biography passage for Upper Elementary
“Peter Minuit and the Founding of New Sweden” is a biography reading passage about New Sweden and the Kalmar Nyckel, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 3 minutes to read (450 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.