Settlement of New Amsterdam

First Peoples

• Native Americans lived on Manhattan Island

• Way of Life– Trading, Hunting and Fishing (economics)

“The Purchase” - Manhattan

• “Bought” by the Dutch from the natives for a converted $24

• Was it really bought?

Dutch Leader

• Willem Kieft became Director General in 1638– Relieved after a massacre of the Natives (In

present day Jersey City)– Dutch nearly lose colony

New Leader• Dutch Colony

failing– Netherlands send

a new leader – Peter Stuyvesant

– Cleans up and improves the colony

Takeover

• The British took the colony from the Dutch settlers without even firing a shot.

• Duke of York (James II) shows up in harbor with British Fleet

• Settlers give up colony without a fight

New Amsterdam

Why Own Manhattan?