New York History, New York

 

Till the 15th century Lenape Native Americans lived in New York City. Before Europeans came in this area it was also inhabited by the nations of the Iroquois Confederacy.  Then, in 1524 Giovanni da Verrazzano stumbled upon the place.

In 1625 it became a Dutch settlement and in 1626, the Dutch purchased the island of Manhattan.  In the following years, the English conquered it and renamed the city as New York. York was the name of English Duke of Albany.

During the British rule, New York City grew in importance and major developments took place in this period. In the American revolutionary war, the city saw major battles known as New York Campaigns. In 1789, George Washington was elected as the first president of the United States of America.  

New York City was the Capital of the United States until 1790 and all the major government offices were headquartered in New York. In the 19th century, the city witnessed major transformations brought by the immigrants as a large number of the immigrants came to make the city their home.

In the 18th century, the city continued to expand and major universities were established here. In 1898, the city consolidated Brooklyn, Manhattan and the neighboring islands. In the 1920s, New York City became a major destination for the African Americans. The city saw a major economic boom and tall skyscrapers were constructed in the 1900s.

After World War II, the Europeans created and economic boom in this city. The presence of the United Nations headquarters proved the political importance of this city. With so much economical developments, the New York emerged as the leading city of the world. The wave of immigrants continued to rise from Europe, Asia and Africa and the city continued to grow as America’s financial, economical, political and cultural center.

New York City witnessed a cutting edge agricultural revolution, an economical and industrial revolution. It became the place where people from different places of world lived and worked together and contributed to the major developments in this city. This city is also the birthplace of many cultural and revolutionary movements.  Soon New York emerged as the largest city in the United States.