Giovanni de Verrazano first explored the area that is now
New York in 1524 and later by Henry Hudson and Samuel de
Champlain in the early 1600’s. It was first settled by the Dutch in
1613, who built trading posts along the Hudson River. The Dutch
named the colony New Netherland. During the next ten years,
Dutch settlers would establish small colonies at Albany and other
points along the Hudson River.
In 1625, Peter Minuit founded New Amsterdam at the
outflow of the Hudson River. According to legend, Minuit paid local
Indians about $24 worth of trinkets for the land. Who knew that
***(Interesting fact)America’s largest city, New York City, would
develop from the land that Minuet purchased for only 24 dollars?
In the 1630’s and 1640’s, Puritans from other colonies
began moving into New Amsterdam. They quickly gained political
and economic influence. The British soon claimed the entire region,
citing the explorations of John Cabot as justification. In 1664, a
British naval fleet sailed into the harbor of New Amsterdam and
forced its surrender. New Netherland was then divided into the
colonies of New York and New Amsterdam. The name “New York,”
after James, Duke of York, replaced New Amsterdam.