| The state of New York has a long and glorious history, which began with the arrival of the Dutch in 1613. They have established a trading post along the Hudson River, then claimed the territory south of New England, between the Connecticut and Delaware Rivers. This territory was named New Netherlands (or New Amsterdam). |
New York History
After purchasing Long Island and the other islands in the New England Coast in 1663, the Duke of York (the future King James II) set his sights on New Netherlands. The duke equipped an armed expedition and took possession of New Netherlands a year later. He then called it New York.
A few years later, in 1673, the Dutch returned and recaptured New York. It was restored to the British by the Treaty of Westminster, executed in February 1674. Reorganization of the colonial government occurred in November 1, 1683. The Province of New York was established and divided into 12 counties, with each county subdivided into towns. This reorganization paved the way for the expansion of the province.
The colonial charter of New York granted unlimited westward expansion. However, two things were on its way. First, the Iroquois Indians, which settled the western part of New York for at least 500 years before the Europeans came, and, second, the colony of Massachusetts, whose charter has the same provisions. This caused territorial dispute between the colonies and the Iroquois.
At the height of its expansion, the territory extended much farther than the boundaries of the present-day State of New York. Having no clear official western boundary, it was perceived to reach up to the Pacific Ocean in the West Coast.
About New York
The State of New York was one of the 13 colonies that revolted against the British and became the United States. It was one of the revolutionary war’s main battlegrounds with over 90 military engagements fought within the boundaries of the state. It was the 11th state to ratify the US Constitution in July 26, 1788. To date, New York has produced four presidents of the United States. They are Martin Van Buren, Millard Fillmore, Theodore Roosevelt, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was also the site of the first presidential inauguration, when, in 1789, Gen. George Washington took his oath of office in New York City. Famous New Yorkers include Eleanor Roosevelt, George Eastman, George Gershwin, Bret Harte, Washington Irving, John D. Rockefeller, Jonas Salk, Leland Stanford, George Westinghouse Jr., Edith Wharton, Walt Whitman, Willis Carrier, and Linus Yale, among others.
New York is a state teeming with attractions, both natural and man-made; commercial and industrial complexes; and cultural institutions. Its famous landmarks include the Statue of Liberty (dedicated in 1886 as a sign of friendship between France and the United States), the Empire State Building (once the tallest building in the world), and the United Nations Building (the home of the United Nations since 1946). The most famous natural feature of the state is the Niagara Falls, which is a part of the border of New York and the Canadian province of Ontario.