New York is the city of opportunities and new ideas, which has always attracted different people from all over the world. According to the senator, D. Patrick Maynihan, “New York is continuously throwing up new ideas and new people” (youtube.com, Episode 1), which was true so many years ago and is still a truthful statement. New York is the hometown of the people of different nationalities and different world outlooks, who have come to New York in a search of a better life, and, despite the fact that New York was previously called New Amsterdam, it has always been the place, which attracted adventurous people willing to change their lives for better.
The history of New York started many years ago when an English explorer, Henry Hudson, hired by the Dutch in 1609 sailed upstream in search of a way leading to China; but he discovered something greater, one of the greatest natural harbours in a world, which is now known as New York (youtube.com, Episode 1). What attracted people to the city and what made this place special is the idea of a new life and new possibilities. The Dutch viewed New Amsterdam as a place, where they could practice their own religious freedom, make money, change themselves, and make new fictive reality come true (youtibe.com Episode 1). It was a chance to form a life of their dream, the one, which was not possible in Holland. What they wanted to create were a political democracy and a capitalistic country. It was the place, where they could build their own government with their own rules. It became a place of a great experiment because many things had been tested first before they were established, like immigration, unitisation, industrialisation, and the creation of a multicultural society (youtube.com Episode 1). However, the rule of the Dutch did not last long, especially after the leadership of Willem Kieft, who imposed taxes on local Indians, and Peter Stuyvesant, who enforced strict rules in the city. What is more, the Dutch did not manage to gain the financial success they were hoping for, therefore, the English took advantage of the opportunity and got the support of the citizens of New Amsterdam, who seemed not to care much, who ran the colony and taxed them. It is unbelievable that after 2 days after Stuyvesant’s surrender, New Amsterdam was renamed New York, and the whole city got back to work as if nothing much had happened (youtube.com Episode 2).
What made the rule of the Dutch and the English similar was an aggressive treatment of the Native Americans and a desire for profit and the development of trade. There were many cases of bloodshed, which led to revolt and uprising. At the same time, a British Empire had a great impact on the development of the economic relationship of New York with other countries, making it the third largest port after Philadelphia and London (youtube.com Episode 3). Not only trading was the main concern of the British government, but industrialisation was also one of the most important factors. It became home for many people from all over the world, who were ready to work hard and build a new city and a new life. Therefore, in search of a workforce, slavery flourished. African Americans were the people, who were used for the daily labours and who practically built most of New York. Finally, when they got tired of such a treatment, the slaves started to gather in groups seeking for the ways of getting freedom. As a result, a series of mysterious uprisings and fires started breaking all over the city, making the government rethink their actions.
The history of New York proves that it is an incredible city, which has been developing so fast and so greatly. It is a perfect example, which proves that there is such a place on Earth, where all the peoples from all over the world can live together.
New York is one of those places, which becomes home for the greatest personalities, promising them a happy and a successful life.
Works Cited
Burns, Ric. “New York: A Documentary Film – Episode One: The Country and The City (1609 – 1825).” Documentary. YouTube, 13 Dec, 2010. Web. 14 Feb. 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAl7M0Le1Kg
Burns, Ric. “New York: A Documentary Film – Episode Two: The Country and The City (1609 – 1825).” Documentary. YouTube, 14. Dec, 2010. Web. 14 Feb, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87yVl-w8cY8
Burns, Ric. “New York: A Documentary Film – Episode Three: The Country and The City (1609 – 1825).” Documentary. YouTube, 17 Dec, 2010. Web. 14 Feb, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_33G7lsbclM
