Colonial New York
1626-1788
History
New York as New Netherlands
In 1621, the Dutch West India Company was granted a charter to settle in New America.
In 1626, Peter Minuit sold trinkets to traded trinkets with Native Americans for Manhattan Island, so he's counted as the founder of New Netherlands. He had goals for New Netherlands to become an international Dutch trading post, and the goals were achieved.
Peter Stuyvesant was the first governor.
New Netherlands/York Becomes English
The Dutch and the English have conflict, but in 1664 Dutch power of New Netherlands is transferred to the English, and not a single canon is shot from either side. New Netherlands is renamed New York.
As the years went by, New York became more and more English.
By 1700, there were about 20,000 people - double the amount when the colony was owned by the Dutch.
Life In the New York Colony
Economy/Religion
The colonists exported agricultural products and natural resources. It was one of the breadbasket colonies, since New York was one of the most wheat and grain producing colonies. New York was one of the big food producing region that included corn and wheat and livestock, including beef and pork.
Colonists made their living in many ways; fur trade, lumber trade, and as merchants and tradesmen, although most colonists were farmers. Other industries included the production of iron ore, lumber, textiles, furs and shipbuilding. Construction was made possible with all the money pouring in, and people of all classes benefited from the city's growth. Poor people became rich, and rich people became richer.
Climate/Farming
Farming was an important way of life in colonial New York, not just to feed families, but also to allow trade of products. Farms grew corn and tobacco near Manhattan Island, and potatoes, corn, grains, rice and indigo further up the Hudson River. A typical farm was 50 to 150 acres consisting of a house, barn, yard and fields.
Government/ Rights of the People
Social Norms
A Day in the Life of a New York Colonist
People in New York led very interesting lives. Girls and women had to cook, clean, make clothing, soap, butter, and candles, take care of children, and make cloth. Boys and men had to build and fix things, work in the garden, hunt, make tools, and raise the animals. Like in New England, children attended a one-room school house where they were taught religion and prayers, reading, writing, and manners. When their work was done, women sewed, had corn husk weaving contests, or quilted, and men had shooting contests, foot races, and horse races. Children played marbles and hopscotch and made kites to fly.
New York is the Best, and Other Colonies Are Not
Massachusetts Bay Colony
~No fertile soil-poor for farming
~No good resources
Virginia Colony
~Poor leadership and government
~Indians refused trade and people died
~Cannibalism
Maryland Colony
~Settled with Catholics and Protestants-division with colonists
Connecticut Colony
~Extremely cold winters
~Inhabited by Puritans
New Hampshire Colony
~Very cold winters
~Poor soil- difficult for farming
NEW YORK COLONY
~Based on trade
~No divisions
~Excellent farming
~Freedom of religion
Sources Cited
- Paulson, Timothy J. New York. New York: Children's, 2004. Print.
- Somervill, Barbara A. The New York Colony. Chanhassen, MN: Child's World, 2004. Print.
- Teitelbaum, Michael. New Hampshire. New York: Children's, 2004. Print.
- Pobst, Sandy. Virginia. New York: Children's, 2004. Print.
- Somervill, Barbara A. The Massachusetts Colony. Chanhassen, MN: Child's World, 2004. Print.
- "Colonial America." For Kids ***. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2015. <http://www.landofthebrave.info/>.
- "Colony Of New York." A Brief History of the Colony of New York, 1609-1692. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2015. <http://www.celebrateboston.com/history/new-york.htm>.
- "Lesson: Colonial Colony." New York Test Prep. StudyZone, n.d. Web. <http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ss5/b/colgovtl.cfm>.
- Anderson, Grace. "Daily Life in the Middle Colonies." Daily Life in the Middle Colonies. N.p., n.d. Web <http://englishcolonizationofna07.pbworks.com/w/page/46115929/Daily%20Life%20in%20the%20Middle%20Colonies>.