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While France focused on regions to the north, which would become known as Canada, the Dutch and the English set their sights on what would become New York.
The stakes were high, and the rivalry was intense.
▲ New Netherland was the first Dutch colony in North America. It was established in 1614. That was 10 years after a group of Dutch merchants had arrived in the region. The colony extended from present-day Albany south to Delaware and included parts of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut, and Delaware. The Dutch felt entitled to the land because they had sponsored Henry Hudson’s 1609 exploration of the region. The Dutch West Indies Company was interested in it for the profitable fur trade. For European settlers, New Netherland held the promise of rich farmland. It was a chance to get in on the fur trade and also be free of religious persecution.
▲ 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. The beads were said to be worth $24 at the time. A more complete understanding involves the idea that Native Americans did not believe that anyone could “own” the land. They may have accepted the beads to ensure 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 inhabited the area for thousands of years before the Dutch arrived).
The Dutch did not settle New Amsterdam in huge numbers. But Jews and people from France and Germany did. About 20 percent of the population were enslaved Africans 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 – who between them spoke as many as 18 different languages. ▶
◀ Peter Stuyvesant was the director-general of all Dutch territory in North America. He was the longest-serving and last director-general of New Netherland. Stuyvesant held the position from 1647 to 1664. When he took office, New Amsterdam was an untidy town in disrepair. 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 and alienated the settlers who wanted to participate in the government. Being at odds with the people of New Amsterdam would later cost him 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 during the Third Anglo-Dutch War. This was a conflict that 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, and New Orange became New York. . . again.
▲ In less than 100 years, the population of New York 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.
