When it came to the discovery of New York and how it was reformed into one of the most renowned cities in the world, we need to go back in time to study the entire process; from its beginning to the end (to when it was then named New York).
Henry Hudson (explorer and an employee of The East India Company) was a man who discovered the 'New Netherlands' (which is known to become the area for multiple states later).
It was quite a coincidence that the land was found because Henry Hudson's original mission was to find a route to Asia. During this mission, he had heard rumors that there was a path that led to him taking an easterly route, but then, unfortunately, he reversed his route due to ice burgs blocking the ship's passage. Hudson then took a western direction in hopes that he would find another route; however, he landed in North America, where he encountered people accustomed to trading with French people and later traded with them for some time. Later on, Henry Hudson explored further up North, reached new areas, and continued to trade with Native groups to claim the land under the Dutch further; thus, the 'New Netherlands' was established. |
The area - now known as 'New Netherlands' - would later experience many changes due to the English, and many wars were fought just for this land, as you are about to learn.
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On the 27th of August 1664, four English interceptors went into New Amsterdam's port and requested the surrendering of New Netherland, resulting in New Amsterdam's peaceful conquest. Some time went by, and the Dutch tried to protect the remains of their trade superiority within the region; however, the English proceeded to pester their actions, and it broke into a full-scale war for the land. This is where we then learn of the 'First Anglo-Dutch war' ( that occurred in 1652-1654) between the Dutch region and the English. The Dutch lost due to the continuation of the pouring of soldiers from England and eventually surrendered. A couple of years later, a 'Second Anglo-Dutch war' (1664-1667) occurred because the English wanted to remove the Dutch sea trade routes entirely due to the intense European commercial rivalry. Both sides claimed victory since the English made the Dutch soldiers retreat first. Ironically the Dutch claimed their part of victory from this war due to the more significant damage inflicted on the English soldiers that fought. Later on, a treaty was formed between the English and the Dutch Republic (named the Treaty of Breda), and the region was renamed New York under the honor of the Duke of York.
references
Henry Hudson - American colonies - Land policy in New England and Virginia. (2017, April 17). Encyclopedia Britannica; www.britannica.com. https://www.britannica.com/topic/American-colonies/Land-policy-in-New-England-and-Virginia
New Netherlands - Greenspan, J. (2018, September 1). The Dutch Surrender New Netherland - HISTORY. HISTORY; www.history.com. https://www.history.com/news/the-dutch-surrender-new-netherland-350-years-ago
New Amsterdam (formation of New York)- Anglo-Dutch Wars | Causes, Summary, Battles, Significance, & Outcome. (2017, March 29). Encyclopedia Britannica; www.britannica.com. https://www.britannica.com/event/Anglo-Dutch-Wars
New Netherlands - Greenspan, J. (2018, September 1). The Dutch Surrender New Netherland - HISTORY. HISTORY; www.history.com. https://www.history.com/news/the-dutch-surrender-new-netherland-350-years-ago
New Amsterdam (formation of New York)- Anglo-Dutch Wars | Causes, Summary, Battles, Significance, & Outcome. (2017, March 29). Encyclopedia Britannica; www.britannica.com. https://www.britannica.com/event/Anglo-Dutch-Wars