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Jan 1, 1524
Giovannie da Verrazano explores the New York area
Verranzano, a Florentine sailing for France, explores the New York area -
Samuel Sieur de Champlain
Champlain (French), explores the New York area -
Henry Hudson explores the New York area
Hudson (English, hired by Dutch), eplored Newfoundland to Virginia in the "Half Moon" to find a route to Asia through the Northwest Passage. He visited the Delware Bay, sailed up the Hudson River up to modern-day Albany. -
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Fort Nassau
For Nassau, established by the New Netherland Company, was used from 1614 to 1617. -
New Netherland named
The States General from the Netherlands gave the name New Netherland to the area between the North (Hudson) and South (Delaware) Rivers. -
Cornelius Jacobsen Mey brings families to New Netherland
Cornelius Jacobsen Mey, the captain of the "New Netherland" ship, brought 30 families to New Netherland as the first attempt by the Dutch to settle the colony. -
New Amsterdam formed
New Amsterdam was the first permanent settlement of the Dutch. -
Dutch governor buys Manhattan Island
The governor of New Netherland, Peter Minuit, bought the island of Manhattan from the natives for about $24. -
Patroon system established
The Dutch West India Company set up the patroon (landowner) system so more people would move to New Netherland. The company's members got large pieces of land to keep if they colonized the land with settlers. -
First Navigation Act
The First Navigation Act prohibited the colonists from trading with with any other country besides England. Colonists were upset with this because it they couldn't exchange goods with the Dutch in New Netherland, or with other foreign countries. -
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Anglo-Dutch Wars
The series of wars between England and the Dutch were to determine who would get New Netherland. Eventually, the Dutch simply gave it to the English (1664). -
New Netherland is given to England
In the midst of the Anglo-Dutch Wars, England captures New Amsterdam in an effort to gain control of New Netherland. The Dutch governor, Peter Stuyvesant, freely released control of the colony to the British. -
Treaty of Breda
The Treaty of Breda formally gave New Netherland to England. -
French come to Niagara Region
The French became interested in New York after the English settled it. French explorer, Rene-Robert Cavelier, entered the Niagara region with the intention of settling the land. -
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Glorious Revolution
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French & Indian War
Due to the French and British both wanted to settle the Ohio River Valley for fur trade purposes, war errupted between the two countries. Native American groups picked a side and the Iroquois, one of the most powerful Native American tribes, sided with the English. The turning point of the war was when the Iroquois fought with the English at the Battle of Quebec. -
Jacob Leisler leads rebellion
Leisler, a Calvinist, wanted to lessen the Roman Catholic power in New York. When the Catholic King, James II, had a son, the Protestants of New York were afraid they might become the minority. Eventually, Leisler led a group of militiamen in taking control of Fort James in an effort to stop Catholic power from spreading. He was later hanged and beheaded. -
Postal service is created
In the 1690s, a postal route was created to link Massachusettes, Conneticut, and New York. Rates fluxated between colonies; the postal service helped boost the economy. -
Population 19,000
By 1700, the diverse population of New York was close to 19,000. -
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Many Germans & Scots-Irish migrate to New York
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John Peter Zenger found innocent
John Peter Zenger, a newspaper publisher, was found innocent of slander against the governor, Cosby. Articles had been written in the paper he oversaw that accused the governor of being a bad leader. Zenger had to take the blame for the articles and went to jail, only to be released later. His trial helped establish freedom of the press. -
King's College began
King's College (now Columbia University), was opened in New York City as a nondenominational instituion, due to the diversity of New York. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the French & Indian War. -
Sugar Act
The Sugar Act was passed to include the colonists in paying off war debt (from the French & Indian War) by putting a tax on sugar. -
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Revolutionary War
The Revolutionary War took place in America between the colonists and Britain. -
British invade New York
In the summer of 1776, the British invaded New York and over the next few years, the colonists and Britain struggled to end up on top. Both sides won several battles. Major battles that occured in New York include: the Battle of Long Island (1776, Britsh win), the Battles of Trenton and Princeton (1776,1777, colonist "win"), the Battle of White Plains (1778, British win).
