As we all know, the new continent America was discovered in 1492 by Christopher Columbus. After this discovery, the Spaniards and the British came to the island one after another. But it is not well known, but there were many different countries, including the French and Dutch, among those who came to the new continent. What is even more interesting is that New York, whose name is understood to be a British colony even today, was once called New Amsterdam and was in the hands of the Dutch.
Since all the countries on the continent we call America were founded by Europeans who massacred the natives, there is actually a direct relationship between the European political world and these new countries. The conflicts between European countries gave birth to the city of New Amsterdam, and the same conflicts buried the name of New Amsterdam in the dusty pages of history and left its place to New York. The story of how the city came to today is like an American dream.
First, let’s go back a bit, to the time when the Netherlands was in the hands of the Spaniards:
It would be best to start our story with the Dutch Revolution, as the details of events in European history can be quite confusing. As a result of numerous political and sectarian conflicts, the area we know as the Netherlands today was in Spanish hands. The Dutch people did not remain silent about this situation and the Dutch Revolution was made in 1566 and the seven provinces in the region were united under the name of Utrecht Union in 1579.
The union, which declared its independence with the Abjuration Law in 1581, entered into a struggle with Spain called the Eighty Years’ War. The Spanish acceptance of the independence of the country, which was named the United Netherlands Republic, was only possible with the Treaty of Westphalia signed in 1648 at the end of these bloody wars.
While the Netherlands was experiencing its golden age, it started to carry out commercial activities in the new continent:
On the one hand, the United Netherlands Republic, which was fighting for independence with the war it waged, on the other hand, was trading in different parts of the world with the Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, the United East India Company, and the Geoctroyeerde Westindische Compagnie, the West India Company.
This period is called the golden age for the Netherlands, which also carried out effective commercial activities in Europe in the 17th century, and many Dutch artists produced important works during this period. Wanting to make the best use of its commercial power, the Netherlands crossed the Atlantic Ocean and went to the new continent of America.
It is also necessary to mention the conflict between England and the Netherlands that took place at the same time. Three different wars were fought between the two states between 1652 and 1674. As we will explain shortly, as a result of these great wars, the important companies of the Netherlands went bankrupt and most of the colonies in the hands of the Netherlands passed to England.
New Amsterdam becomes the continent’s new commercial hub:
In 1609, a 12-year truce was signed between Spain and the Republic of the United Netherlands. Taking advantage of this gap, the Netherlands immediately took the road to the new continent of America and established a commercial center that he called New Netherland between the regions called Delaware River, Hudson River, Connecticut River today.
The capital of the New Netherland region is named New Amsterdam. The main commodity of trade held by the Dutch in the New Amsterdam region was fur. The monopoly on fur was abolished, as private investors were requested to contribute to this trade carried out by the West India Company.
With the abolition of the monopoly, a market for fur, tobacco, food and, unfortunately, slaves was established, involving local investors. The Burgomasters and Schepens Court in the region made many decisions to support international trade. So much so that when we came to the 1650s, New Amsterdam was literally experiencing a trade and population boom. It didn’t take long for the Netherlands to lose this power.
New Amsterdam falls into the hands of the British and becomes New York:
We have said that three different wars were fought between England and Holland between 1652 and 1674. One of them took place on the territory of New Amsterdam. Actually, it’s not really a war. In 1664, four English warships docked in New Amsterdam harbor and soon took control of the area.
When New Amsterdam was captured by the British, its name was first changed to New York. King of England II. Charles, after the capture of New Amsterdam, was appointed governor of the region by his brother, Duke of York II. He appointed James. II, who will be king in the following years. James also chose the name New York for the region. The name is not well liked even today, and the easterners of America generally prefer to call the city The City.
New York was long used as a slave market:
Of course, New York did not become New York in a day. The city, which had already established a certain commercial order by the Dutch, continued its activities for a long time in this way. After the United States was founded in 1778, it served as the capital for 2 years, but then the capital was moved to Washington.
The real change of the city began in the 19th century. Central Park in New York, which received many immigrants, was the first park to be landscaped when it opened in 1857. This beautiful park was used as a slave and animal market for many years. Interestingly, the same park became the center of protests when the anti-slavery movement began.
With the opening of the New York subway in 1904, the city became one of the most important logistics centers in the entire country. Due to its easy accessibility, it was at the heart of communication, trade and industry. In 1916 it became the favorite emigration point of African Americans. By 1920 it had become an even more populous city than London.
Today the heart of the world beats in New York:
Post-WWII immigrants and veterans came to New York. Wall Street was built here, the United Nations Headquarters was built here, the World Trade Center is here. Thanks to American TV series and movies, we all know that New York has become the place where the heart of the world beats.
We went on a journey through the dusty pages of history by telling the story of New York City, which had the name New Amsterdam before the British took over. Yes, the heart of the world beats in New York, but we do not know how clean a heart built on Native American blood beats.
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