in 1664 Dutch Governor Peter Stuyvesant surrendered New Amsterdam to an English naval squadron under the command of Colonel Richard Nicolls. Stuyvesant had wanted to resist the English but he was too unpopular to command the public. The English changed the name of New Amsterdam to New York in respect to the duke of York who had organized the mission.
New Amsterdam was founded by the Dutch in 1624 who bought the land from the local Manhattan tribe. The local natives were unfamiliar with European ways of contract and land ownership and started a conflict with the Dutch colonists that resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 natives and colonists.
After the English conquered New Amsterdam the English and Dutch people lived together peacefully. After a short period where the Dutch regained control of the settlement, 1673-1674, the settlement became the first to receive a Royal Charter (1686). Eventually New York went on to be the first American capitol following the American Revolution.
Historical Figures
- Peter Stuyvesant
- Richard Nicolls
- Peter Minuit
Artifact
Treaty of Westminister
Sources
"New Amsterdam Becomes New York." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.
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