New York was officially founded in 1664, when Charles II gave his brother James II (the Duke of New York) the territory between the Connecticut and Delaware Rivers. However, since the Dutch had also claimed that land, there was conflict as to who could settle where. Eventually, the Dutch lost the squabble in 1674, and James II deemed the land "New York". He made New York a royal colony in 1685.
New York, much like the other middle colonies, was religiously tolerant. People from multiple sects of Christianity could be found in New York, and none of them faced the kind of persecution that could be found in some of the New England colonies. James II did not strictly enforce Catholism, which helped allow for this religious diversity.
Settlers going to New York were also culturally diverse, and hailed particularly from countries in Northern Europe, such as Scandinavia and Germany. Many Africans also lived in New York as slaves, and the members of several different Native tribes made their homes in New York territory as well.
In addition to these social aspects, New York maintained decent relations with the Native Americans in comparison to some of the other colonies. New York had good relationships with the Iroquois, and wars with the natives were not common. Their economy also benefited from trade with the Iroquois.
However, most of the land in colonial New York was owned by a few landowners and speculators, and property holding was extremely unequal and divided. This meant that New York had more feudalistic traits than the other middle colonies, and its economic state resembled that of Southern plantation owners. New York also differed from the rest of the middle colonies in that it was more aristocratic, like the New England and southern colonies. It also prospered under the English rule.
New York's geography allowed for a mix of both an agricultural and industrial economy. New York had fertile soil, a long growing season, and the ideal conditions for farming. It also had many forests, which fueled the lumber and shipbuilding businesses. This helped New York grow agriculturally and industrially, and New York City soon became an important trade center (along with Philadelphia in Pennsylvania).
New York, much like the other middle colonies, was religiously tolerant. People from multiple sects of Christianity could be found in New York, and none of them faced the kind of persecution that could be found in some of the New England colonies. James II did not strictly enforce Catholism, which helped allow for this religious diversity.
Settlers going to New York were also culturally diverse, and hailed particularly from countries in Northern Europe, such as Scandinavia and Germany. Many Africans also lived in New York as slaves, and the members of several different Native tribes made their homes in New York territory as well.
In addition to these social aspects, New York maintained decent relations with the Native Americans in comparison to some of the other colonies. New York had good relationships with the Iroquois, and wars with the natives were not common. Their economy also benefited from trade with the Iroquois.
However, most of the land in colonial New York was owned by a few landowners and speculators, and property holding was extremely unequal and divided. This meant that New York had more feudalistic traits than the other middle colonies, and its economic state resembled that of Southern plantation owners. New York also differed from the rest of the middle colonies in that it was more aristocratic, like the New England and southern colonies. It also prospered under the English rule.
New York's geography allowed for a mix of both an agricultural and industrial economy. New York had fertile soil, a long growing season, and the ideal conditions for farming. It also had many forests, which fueled the lumber and shipbuilding businesses. This helped New York grow agriculturally and industrially, and New York City soon became an important trade center (along with Philadelphia in Pennsylvania).