History of New York City (prehistory–1664) facts for kids

The history of New York City began long before Europeans arrived. The area was first home to the Lenape people. Later, in the 16th century, European explorers came. The Dutch set up a settlement called New Amsterdam in 1626. Then, in 1664, the British took control and renamed it New York.

Early People in New York

Scientists have found signs that the first people lived in the New York area about 9,000 years ago. These early groups might have left for a while. This could be because the weather got warmer, and the large animals they hunted for food disappeared.

About 3,000 years ago, new groups of people arrived. They used better hunting tools, like bows and arrows. Over 8,000 of their old campsites have been found across the city. It seems people have lived here ever since.

The Lenape Way of Life

When Europeans first arrived, the Lenape people were living here. They were skilled farmers, using a method called slash and burn. This helped their farm fields stay fertile for longer. They also caught many fish and shellfish from the local bays.

Because of their successful farming and fishing, the Lenape could support a larger population. Unlike nomadic hunter-gatherers, they stayed in one place more. Experts believe about 15,000 Lenape lived in the New York City area. They had around 80 settlements.

In 1524, Giovanni da Verrazzano was the first European explorer to sail into New York Harbor. Lenape in canoes met him. He named the area New Angoulême.

Dutch Settlers Arrive

In 1613, the Dutch set up a trading post on the western side of Manhattan Island. Juan (Jan) Rodriguez was the first non-native person known to live there.

In 1614, the New Netherland company was created. They built another fur trading post called Fort Nassau in what is now Albany. But it wasn't until 1623 that the Dutch wanted more than just trade.

Building New Amsterdam

The Dutch West India Company built Fort Amsterdam in 1624. This simple fort was located where the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House stands today. Its main job was to protect the company's fur trading upriver from other European countries.

Within a year, a small town called New Amsterdam grew around the fort. Most people living there were soldiers. There were also families from Wallonia, France, and Flanders. These Huguenot families came to farm the land and provide food for the company. Sarah Rapelje, born in 1625, was the first European child born in what would become New York City.

In 1626, Peter Minuit bought Manhattan Island and Staten Island from the native people. He traded goods for the land.

Beaver Trade and Its Impact

The Dutch used the natives' reliance on wampum (shell beads used as money). They traded cheap European metal tools for beaver furs. These tools helped natives make wampum much faster, which made it less valuable. Lenape men started trapping beavers instead of hunting and fishing for food.

The Dutch also began making their own wampum with better tools. This gave them more control over trade. Because of this, beavers were almost gone from the Five Boroughs within 20 years. This left the Lenape very dependent on the Dutch. The native population sadly dropped a lot during the 1600s. This was due to sickness, hunger, and people moving away.

A Diverse Trading Hub

As the beaver trade moved to Upstate New York, New Amsterdam became a key trading center for the North American coast. The Dutch company cared more about trade than about creating a Dutch colony. So, many different groups of people came to the city in the 1600s. These included Spanish people, Jews, and Africans, some of whom were enslaved.

Many New York City names still show its Dutch past. For example, Coney Island comes from "Konijnen Eiland," meaning "Rabbit Island." Bowery comes from bouwerij (farm). Brooklyn comes from Breukelen. Harlem comes from Haarlem. Greenwich Village comes from Greenwijck, meaning "pine wood quarter." Flushing comes from Vlissingen. And Staten Island comes from "Staaten Eylandt."

Kieft's War

Willem Kieft became the director general in 1638. Five years later, he started a war against the Native Americans, known as Kieft's War. In February 1643, 80 natives were killed in the Pavonia Massacre across the Hudson River.

After this, eleven Algonquian tribes joined together. They almost defeated the Dutch. Holland sent more soldiers to help Kieft. These soldiers helped defeat the Native Americans. A peace treaty was signed on August 29, 1645, ending the war.

Manhattan's Natural Advantages

Manhattan Island was a perfect spot for a big city. It has an amazing natural harbor. This harbor is formed by New York Bay, the East River, and the Hudson River. All these waters meet at the southern tip of the island.

The island also had deep fresh water sources, like the Collect Pond. Its land was varied, from marshlands to strong rock formations called Manhattan schist. This rock is great for building large structures.

The British Take Over

The Fall of New Amsterdam: British ships arrive in 1664.

In 1664, British ships sailed into Gravesend Bay in modern Brooklyn. British troops marched to capture the ferry across the East River to the city. There was little resistance. The Dutch governor, Peter Stuyvesant, was not popular with the people.

The Dutch signed the Articles of Capitulation in 1664. The Dutch West India Company's flag was lowered on September 8, 1664. The Dutch soldiers then left for the Netherlands. The year 1664 was on New York City's official seal until 1975. It was then changed to 1625 to show the year the Dutch officially made it a city.

The British renamed the colony New York. They named it after the king's brother, James, Duke of York. On June 12, 1665, Thomas Willett became the first of the mayors of New York. The city grew northward and remained the biggest and most important city in the New York colony.

Images for kids

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  The Stadt Huys (City Hall) of New Amsterdam, built by the Dutch.

See also

In Spanish: Historia de Nueva York (prehistoria-1664) para niños