Dutch colonization of the Americas

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/dutch-colonization-of-the-americas

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How long is Dutch colonization of the Americas?Suriname, which achieved independence from the Netherlands in 1975
2. What is the major north american holding?New Netherland, including New Amsterdam, which was ceded to England in 1664
3. What did Dutch explorers do in the New World?They built forts and trading posts, especially along the Essequibo River in Guyana, and later in places like Suriname and New Netherland.
4. Why did the Dutch focus on trade instead of many settlers?They wanted to make money by buying and selling goods, so they set up commercial hubs rather than large towns.

Mercantilism: An economic theory and practice where a nation seeks to maximize exports and minimize imports to increase wealth and power.
Dutch West India Company: A chartered company established in 1621 to manage Dutch trade and colonization in the Americas and Africa.
Sovereignty: The supreme power or authority of a state to govern itself or another state.