History | Symbols | Interesting Facts | Famous People
of the largest and strongest Indian groups in all of North America lived
in the New York area when white settlers arrived.
One group consisted of the Mahican, Montauk, Munsee, and
Wappinger tribes while the other was the Iroquois.
In 1524, Giovanni da Verrazano sent by France, was the first European to reach the New York Harbor. Henry Hudson, employed by the Dutch, sailed up the Hudson River in 1609 and there claimed land naming it New Netherland. The French explorer Samuel de Champlain traded goods among the Indians and claimed the same land for France.
In 1624, a group from the Netherlands settled Fort Orange (now Albany), the first permanent white settlement in the colony. Other Dutch groups settled on Manhattan Island. English colonists also wanted to settle New York. The Duke of York commanded warships to go against the Dutch. The Dutch surrendered without a fight and the new English colony became known as New York.
Revolutionary War began in 1776. Many
New Yorkers disliked British policies.
Others, called Loyalists, supported the British and persuaded the
Indians to help fight against the patriots.
Many battles were fought in New York causing over 30,000 people
to leave the state during and after the war.
July 9, 1776, New York approved the Declaration of Independence and
organized an independent government.
The Articles of Confederation were accepted on Feb. 6, 1778.
New York ratified the Constitution and became the 11th
state of the Union on July 26th, 1778.
the early 1800s, immigrants entered the United States through New York
Harbor, at Ellis Island. Many people remained in New York City to work on the Erie
Canal. During this time,
more people lived in New York that in any other state.
New York Stock Exchange crashed in October of 1929.
The crash led to the Great Depression.
Businesses closed and people were left without work.
President Franklin Roosevelt, the New York governor, became the
U.S. President. He
successfully helped to organize building projects that gave jobs to many
people. These projects were
part of a program he called the “New Deal.”
World War II (1939-1945), factories produced large amounts of war
materials. After the war, the United Nations established its
headquarters in New York City. Two
world’s fairs were also held in New York.
hydroelectric projects were developed during the 1950s.
In 1961, the Niagara Power Plant opened as one of the largest
hydroelectric facilities in the world.
Transportation also improved.
In 1960, New York State Thruway, the world’s longest toll
superhighway, was completed. Many
roads were constructed at this time, many stretching into Canada.
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts was also built during the 1960s.
Julliard School of Music, the Metropolitan Opera, and the New
York Philharmonic Orchestra are some of these famous institutions.
York experienced a small depression in 1970.
Many factories closed and about 600,000 people lost their jobs. Since then, the economy has recovered with growth in service
industries. New York
tourism and population has grown as well.
The state ranks second only to California in the number of new
immigrants it receives every year.
Recently, New York is faced with the problems of cleaning toxic waste, maintaining extensive roadways, and helping minorities to have a better education and way of life.