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France focused on regions to the north. These would become known as Canada.
The Dutch and the English set their sights on what would become New York.
The stakes were high. The rivalry was intense.
▲ New Netherland was the first Dutch colony in North America. It was established in 1614. That was 10 years after Dutch merchants had arrived in the region. The colony extended from present-day Albany south to Delaware. It included parts of many states. They included New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut, and Delaware. The Dutch felt entitled to the land. That was because they had sponsored Henry Hudson’s 1609 exploration of the region. The Dutch West Indies Company was interested in it too. They wanted its profitable furs for trading. For European settlers, New Netherland held the promise of rich farmland. It was a chance to get in on the fur trade. It was also freedom from religious discrimination.
▲ Peter Minuit was director-general of New Netherland from 1626 to 1631. He is most known for what is said to be his “purchase” of New Amsterdam. According to one story, Minuit “traded” New Amsterdam for a quantity of glass beads. Supposedly the beads were worth $24 at the time. A more complete understanding involves a different idea. Native Americans did not believe that anyone could “own” the land. They may have accepted the beads. But their idea was to promise safe passage for the settlers. Not to transfer “ownership” of the land. In any case, in 1626, New Amsterdam was established on the southern tip of what is now Manhattan. Or Manahatta, as it was called by the Lenape peoples, who had lived in the area for thousands of years.
The Dutch did not settle New Amsterdam in huge numbers. But Jews did. And people from France and Germany did. About 20 percent of the population were enslaved Africans. They had been brought to New Amsterdam by the Dutch West Indies Company. These were the people who literally built the town. Within 40 years, the population of New Amsterdam had grown to 1,500 people. As many as 18 different languages were spoken. ▶
◀ Peter Stuyvesant was the director-general of all Dutch territory in North America. He was the longest-serving director-general of New Netherland. He was also the last. Stuyvesant served from 1647 to 1664. When he took office, New Amsterdam was an untidy town. It was in bad shape. Pigs were rooting around the base of buildings. People were dumping garbage in the streets. Roads were built poorly. Stuyvesant worked to fix these and other problems. But he acted like a dictator. Settlers wanted to participate in the government. So they felt alienated. Being at odds with the people of New Amsterdam would later cost Stuyvesant control of the town. And all of New Netherland.
Think Piece!
Think about Peter Stuyvesant having to surrender New Netherland in 1664. What do you think he could have done that would have made for a different outcome?
▲ The rivalry between the Dutch and the English continued. In 1673, the Dutch regained control of New York. That was during the Third Anglo-Dutch War. The war took place mainly in Europe. As a result of the war, New York was renamed New Orange after William III, Prince of Orange, of the Netherlands. But the new name didn’t last. The next year, the Dutch gave up control of the colony in a treaty that ended the war. New Orange became New York. . . again.
▲ The population of New York kept growing. In less than 100 years, it increased by nearly 10 times. Most of the new residents were either immigrants or enslaved people. At times during this period, racial tensions marred the colony. All the while, other developments were taking place. The first newspaper, the New York Gazette, began publishing (1725). The first theater opened (1732). And Kings College, now Columbia University, was founded (1754). New York was starting to take shape.
