Adriaen van der Donck Tells Of How He Became Known as the Father of Modern Day Democracy

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My name is Adriaen van der Donck, and I was born in the Netherlands in 1618. I studied law at the University of Leiden, but instead of staying in Europe, I chose to sail across the ocean to New Netherland. I first worked for Kiliaen van Rensselaer, the patroon of Rensselaerswyck, where I served as a kind of sheriff, settling disputes and helping to organize the colony. I quickly grew fascinated by the land—its forests, rivers, and animals—and by the native peoples, especially the Mohawk, who I spent time learning from. I wrote down my observations, describing New Netherland in ways that few Europeans ever had, hoping to show others the richness and potential of this place. Yet what I cared about most was the people who lived there. I believed settlers deserved a voice in their own government, not just the rule of the Dutch West India Company. I fought for self-government and presented petitions on behalf of the colonists, earning the reputation as the Father of American Democracy. Though I died in 1655, I hope my work helped lay the foundation for fairness and freedom in America.

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