The Politics and Government of Colonial New York

Sir Edmund Andros.

New York was a proprietary colony owned by James II. He granted freedom of conscience to the citizens of New York. This brought about a limited form of self-government. James did not directly control New York, instead he accredited a governor. The first governor was a man named Richard Nicolls. It was under him that New Amsterdam became New York. The proprietary form of government ceased in 1685 under the rule of the governor Edmund Andros, when New York became a royal colony.    

Relgions of Colonial New York`

Jesus of Nazareth.

Though Protestants made up the majority of citizens, a smaller group of residents practiced Catholicism. Dutch Reformed Protestantism was the first ever particularly noticeable religion of colonial New York, building the the Collegiate Church in 1628. Later, the French version of Protestantism became the dominant religion due to the incursion of French Huguenots.

The Economy of Colonial New York

Colonists harvesting tobacco.

Colonists made their livings in many different ways. Such as shipping, lumber trading, fur trapping, and slave trading. Most colonial citizens were farmers who cared for large areas of land by hand to grow crops. Corn was the most popular crop grown, due to the fact that it could be eaten by both the colonists and their animals. Flax, wheat, vegetables, and tobacco were also grown. Some colonists mined iron to later send to England for a profit.

Climate and Geography

New York had very hot and humid summers, and violently cold winters with lots of snow. The terrain was also very swampy along the coast. Up north, there were many mountains covered with forests. The ground was rocky, though the soil was good for farming after being cleared of rocks and trees. The land of Colonial New York exceeded the boundaries of current New York. They stretched as far east as Maine, and as far south as New Jersey. Of course, there were many wars over land with the Native Americans.

The Giving of New Amsterdam to The Duke Of York

The Duke of York.

Upon the English Claim on March 12 1664, Charles II gave the colony of New Amsterdam to his brother James, the Duke of York as a proprietorship. The colony was renamed New York in honor of the Duke. Only when the Duke was crowned King James II on February 6th, 1685, did New York become a royal colony.

The English Capture of New Netherland

The English Invasion of New Netherland.

In 1664, the English invaded and captured the colony of New Netherland. The Dutch citizens living in the colony were given acceptable terms of surrender. People were assured property rights and religious toleration. However, a complete discharge of the Dutch rule did not come to pass until November 10th, 1674.

The Founding of New Netherland

Flag of the Dutch West India Company.

The New York colony began as the Dutch trading outpost of New Netherland in the year 1614. On May 4th 1626, representatives of the Dutch West India Company in New Netherland founded New Amsterdam, which consequently became New York City.