New York
- New York was founded by the dutch in 1626 because they wanted profits from the fur trade. This affected the economy of the colony and why many dutch people lived here bringing along their protestant religion. In 1664, Peter Stuyvesant surrendered the colony to King Charles II who gave it to his brother, the Duke of York.
- Economy- New York was part of the breadbasket colonies since it grew a lot of wheat. It also had lots of iron ore which was made into many useful products. The lumber industry was big because New York had so many trees that were made into wood for ship building.
- Geography- Fertile soil throughout the colony which meant good farmland. It had some mountains and woodland. The Atlantic Ocean ran along the eastern border making it easy to trade. Mild climate.
- The King of England would chose a governor to control New York. There was little self government in this Proprietary colony.
- Famous New Yorkers are President Theodore Roosevelt, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Billy Joel, and Tom Cruise
- New York had a lot of Dutch influence which meant it was almost completely Protestant. It granted religious freedom to Protestants.
- Residency Requirements- You had more opportunities if you were Protestant.
- Target Residents- farmers or ranchers whose lives depend on fertile soil. Protestants having economic struggles could come to New York.
- An important founding document was the "Charter of the Dutch West India Company: 1621" which brought the Dutch to settle New York in the first place.
"No religion is publicly exercised but the Calvinist, and orders are to admit none but Calvinists, but this is not observed, for there are, besides Calvinists, in the Colony Catholics, English Puritans, Lutherans, Anabaptists,..."
- Rev. Isaac Jogues, S.J.
A Jesuit Priest is describing the religious diversity of New Amsterdam. He lists many kinds of religions that he has seen in the colony and seems amazed. This quote helps us understand what kind of people live in New York in 1644.