History of New York

This article is about the history of New York State.For a history of the city see: History of New York City.

Related Topics:
New York State - History of New York City

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The Dutch were the first European settlers in the colony known as New Netherland (Nova Belgica in Latin). The southern tip of Manhattan was settled by the Dutch in 1613 as well as Fort Nassau was founded near Albany, New York in 1614 and abandoned in 1618. About thirty Walloon families settled on the shores of the Hudson River in New York City and on the Delaware River around 1624. The Dutch also established Fort Oranje near present-day Albany in 1624. New Amsterdam was established on the island of Manhattan which a year later Peter Minuitpurchased from the Algonquine Indians. After the English took over in 1664, the colony was renamed New York, after the Duke of York, the future King James II of England.

Related Topics:
Dutch - New Netherland - Manhattan - Fort Nassau - Albany, New York - 1614 - 1618 - Walloon - Hudson River - New York City - Delaware River - 1624 - Fort Oranje - New Amsterdam - Peter Minuit - English - 1664 - The Duke of York

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On November 1, 1683, the government was reorganized into a pattern still followed, and the state was divided into twelve counties, each of which was subdivided into towns. Ten of those counties still exist (see below), but two (Cornwall and Dukes) were in territory purchased by the Duke of York from the Earl of Sterling, and are no longer within the territory of the State of New York, having been transferred by treaty to Massachusetts, Dukes in 1686 and Cornwall in 1692. (Cornwall County became a large portion of the State of Maine when that state was detached from Massachusetts in 1819; Dukes County is still a county in Massachusetts.) While the number of counties has been increased to 62, the pattern still remains that a town in New York State is a subdivision of a county, rather than an incorporated municipality as in most (but not all) other States.

Related Topics:
November 1 - 1683 - Counties - Town - Cornwall - Dukes - Massachusetts - 1686 - 1692 - Maine - 1819 - Dukes County - Municipality

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New York was one of the thirteen colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution. Its constitution, ratified in 1777, was one of the more conservative of the new state constitutions passed by the former colonies. It a enacted a bicameral legislature and a strong executive with extensive appointment authority even at the local level, and with veto power over the legislature; the governor could even disband the elected legislature. It kept the substantial property qualification for voting from its colonial charter, disenfranchising most New Yorkers who would fight the war. It effectively ensured that the elite would stay firmly in control.

Related Topics:
Thirteen colonies - American Revolution - Bicameral - Veto - Colonial charter - Disenfranchising

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Of northern states, only New Jersey was slower to outlaw slavery, which was legal in New York until 1827.

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