New York
Founding
Henry Hudson was hired to find a shorter and safer way to the Far East (China, India, and Japan). Hudson saw land and believed he had found what he was looking for. When Hudson was leaving, he tasted the water and found out the water was fresh, not salty. He realized that they had found a big river and not the passage way to the Far East. Before leaving, he claimed all the land that was touching the river for Holland. He called this area New Netherlands. When Hudson got back to Holland, news about where he had been quickly spread through Amsterdam. The main reason the Dutch went back to the New World was because they wanted to get pelts. The Dutch government made a company and sent them to the New World to collect pelts. This company was called the Dutch West India Company. They also sent people to settle there so they keep the trading all to themselves. Eventually the land was captured by the Duke of York. He renamed the land New York and then gave some of the land to his friend who named his portion New Jersey.
Important Documents
Article of Capitulation: This was a document that the English had to sign before they took over the colony. It stated that people from all different countries would still be allowed to settle New York.
http://www.thirteen.org/dutchny/interactives/document-dutch-articles-of-surrender/5/
Government
Under the rule of James the Duke of York, New York was a proprietary colony, a colony granted by the British king to a person or group of people with full governing rights. However, in 1685, New York became a royal colony.
Geography
According to Hudson, the soil was very good for farming. It produced many crops. Usually soil can't produce well after many years of planting crops, but the soil here never wore out.
Economy
This was one of the bread-basket colonies. It imported lots of grain and made lots of profit. That is why many people were farmers. New York farmers not only grew grain but it also grew fruits and vegetables.
Religion
There was religious freedom here. They had a governor named Peter Stuyvesant who couldn't stand anyone that was different from him. He hated the Jews and Quakers especially. He wanted to kick them out but the company he was working for wouldn't allow this.
Celebrity Residents
Captain May was the captain of the first ship to arrive with settlers to New York. He later became the colonist leader. Wouter von Twiller was sent to the colonies to make it better but he was just concerned with buying land. When the DWIC found out he was sent back to New England. William Kieft was sent to make the colony better and did a good job until he got greedy and wanted the Native to pay him taxes. Kieft overreacted to news of a stolen pig and a war broke out the colony was left in worse condition than when Twiller ruled. He was sent back to England for violating the DWIC motto 'Tis better to rule by love and friendship than by force'. Peter Stuyvesant replaced Kieft and did a very god job at restoring the colony. Although he was doing a good job the settlers didn't like him because he was stubborn and strict. He also couldn't tolerate anyone that was different than them.
The Duke of York is the one that took New York from the Dutch.
Target Resident Profile
If you enjoy hard work, this is the colony for you. You get to make just about everything you use in this colony. From furniture to clothes to food. Also come here if you want to make some quick money. Settle here for a few years then go back to the colonies with pelts and you can get rich fast. Any religion is welcome in New York. This colony is a royal colony, so it is more for people who enjoy a powerful government.
Henry Hudson was hired to find a shorter and safer way to the Far East (China, India, and Japan). Hudson saw land and believed he had found what he was looking for. When Hudson was leaving, he tasted the water and found out the water was fresh, not salty. He realized that they had found a big river and not the passage way to the Far East. Before leaving, he claimed all the land that was touching the river for Holland. He called this area New Netherlands. When Hudson got back to Holland, news about where he had been quickly spread through Amsterdam. The main reason the Dutch went back to the New World was because they wanted to get pelts. The Dutch government made a company and sent them to the New World to collect pelts. This company was called the Dutch West India Company. They also sent people to settle there so they keep the trading all to themselves. Eventually the land was captured by the Duke of York. He renamed the land New York and then gave some of the land to his friend who named his portion New Jersey.
Important Documents
Article of Capitulation: This was a document that the English had to sign before they took over the colony. It stated that people from all different countries would still be allowed to settle New York.
http://www.thirteen.org/dutchny/interactives/document-dutch-articles-of-surrender/5/
Government
Under the rule of James the Duke of York, New York was a proprietary colony, a colony granted by the British king to a person or group of people with full governing rights. However, in 1685, New York became a royal colony.
Geography
According to Hudson, the soil was very good for farming. It produced many crops. Usually soil can't produce well after many years of planting crops, but the soil here never wore out.
Economy
This was one of the bread-basket colonies. It imported lots of grain and made lots of profit. That is why many people were farmers. New York farmers not only grew grain but it also grew fruits and vegetables.
Religion
There was religious freedom here. They had a governor named Peter Stuyvesant who couldn't stand anyone that was different from him. He hated the Jews and Quakers especially. He wanted to kick them out but the company he was working for wouldn't allow this.
Celebrity Residents
Captain May was the captain of the first ship to arrive with settlers to New York. He later became the colonist leader. Wouter von Twiller was sent to the colonies to make it better but he was just concerned with buying land. When the DWIC found out he was sent back to New England. William Kieft was sent to make the colony better and did a good job until he got greedy and wanted the Native to pay him taxes. Kieft overreacted to news of a stolen pig and a war broke out the colony was left in worse condition than when Twiller ruled. He was sent back to England for violating the DWIC motto 'Tis better to rule by love and friendship than by force'. Peter Stuyvesant replaced Kieft and did a very god job at restoring the colony. Although he was doing a good job the settlers didn't like him because he was stubborn and strict. He also couldn't tolerate anyone that was different than them.
The Duke of York is the one that took New York from the Dutch.
Target Resident Profile
If you enjoy hard work, this is the colony for you. You get to make just about everything you use in this colony. From furniture to clothes to food. Also come here if you want to make some quick money. Settle here for a few years then go back to the colonies with pelts and you can get rich fast. Any religion is welcome in New York. This colony is a royal colony, so it is more for people who enjoy a powerful government.