Eight Men facts for kids
The Eight Men were an important group of people in early New Netherland, which was a Dutch colony in what is now New York. They were like an early form of government where people could choose representatives to speak for them. This group took over from an earlier council called the Twelve Men and was later replaced by the Nine Men.
Why Were the Eight Men Formed?
In 1643, a man named Abraham Pietersen Van Deusen, who had been part of the previous council, was chosen for this new group of eight men. The colony was facing tough times. The economy was struggling, and there was a difficult war happening with the Native Americans, known as Kieft's War.
The Eight Men decided to take action. They contacted the States-General in the Netherlands, which was like the main government back home. They told them that Governor Willem Kieft was to blame for the problems in the colony.
They asked for two main things:
- A new leader for New Netherland, called the Director-General.
- More power and say for the ordinary people in how the colony was run.
Because of their complaints, Governor Kieft was removed from his position. Peter Stuyvesant then became the new Director-General. He stayed in charge until the British took over the colony in 1664.
Who Were the Council Members?
The people who served on the council of Eight Men were:
- Isaac Allerton
- Jan Jansen Dam (who was later replaced by Jan Everts Bout)
- Barent Dircksen
- Oloff Stevense Van Cortlandt
- Thomas Hal (sometimes spelled Thomas Hall)
- Jochem Pietersen Kuyter
- Cornelis Melyn (he was the chairman of the group)
- Abraham Pietersen Van Deursen
- Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven
- Captain John Underhill (he joined the council in 1645)
