History

====The colony of New York was established in 1644 by the English. The land originally belonged to different kinds of Indians that changed over thousands of years. Dutch investors were interested in the land and developed the colony of New Netherlands in 1624. The Dutch who came from Holland wanted to create trade with the Americas for profit. At the mouth of the Hudson River, the Dutch began construction on a trading outpost in 1625. This station would be known as New Amsterdam. The local Native Americans allowed the Dutch to use Manhattan for living space in exchange for goods. The colony had a lot of economic success thanks to prosperous trading with Europe for various goods including the luxurious and expensive fur. Also, the fertile land the Hudson and Delaware Rivers provided allowed for many different crops that could be grown and traded for profit. Economic success came from the port at New Amsterdam where the English, Germans, Swedes, French, Dutch, and several others conducted business. The colony allowed for religious tolerance and even had its own synagogue. The prosperous Dutch caught the attention of the English. In 1644, English King Charles II sent the Duke of York, his brother, to New Amsterdam and took the colony from the Dutch. After this, the name was changed from New Amsterdam to New York and the English owned the colony, and New Netherland would also become property of the English. The king granted full governing rights to the Duke of York making New York a proprietary colony. The Duke had the authority to rule as he pleased and create whatever laws he wished.====