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When the explorers went back and told their European countries of all the riches in the New World, many countries were anxious to have settlements here. The years between 1600 and 1776 found the present day NY area influenced by at least three different groups: the Dutch (New Netherlands), the French (France), and the British (Great Britain). Each different group of people brought with it new languages, sports, foods, building styles, possibly religions, and customs.
The Dutch were the first to establish a colony here. Henry Hudson had claimed the land for them in 1609. They wanted to control the fur trade with the Native Americans, but it was a very difficult life here. The first settlers had to clear the land for crops, build their own homes, and defend themselves against the Native Americans. But in 1624, the first colonists sailed for the New World, which they called New Netherlands. It included parts of New Jersey, Delaware, and New York. It was to be the only Dutch colony, surrounded by English and French colonies. The first group included about 30 families. Since they were mainly coming to trade furs, most of them continued up the Hudson River to reach Fort Orange (present day Albany). It was the best trading spot in the area. Fewer families stopped to settle at the mouth of the Hudson River in a settlement called New Amsterdam (present day New York City).
But the Dutch needed more people to settle here, so they set up a group of businessmen called the Dutch West India Company to try to get more people to come. This is how it worked: they called on rich men, called patroons, to persuade people to move to the New World. The patroon was given large amounts of land (mostly along the Hudson River) in exchange for bringing 50 settlers here. Now the settlers would not be given the land here; they were allowed to farm it in return for giving the patroon part of their crops and livestock as rent. This didn't work well, and many patroons failed and then quit, so the rules were changed. More people were then allowed to own land, and therefore, more people came here. With more Dutch people, came more Dutch influences. Because the Dutch mainly lived around the Albany and New York City Area, many of their customs, building styles, food recipes, and city and street names are still found in those areas. Everywhere in New York State we still enjoy Dutch food (waffles, donuts, etc.) and some sports (like bowling). Did you know that lettuce and tomatoes were both brought to the new world by the Dutch? Between 1624 and 1664, about one half of the colonists were Dutch, but the second largest group was the English. They came for religious freedom, better farmland, or to trade because New Amsterdam was a rich trading city. By 1664, Great Britain decided it wanted control of this colony and sent powerful British warships into New Amsterdam. Most Dutch did not want to fight this powerful British navy, so they gave up the colony without a shot being fired!
Of course the biggest British influence on New York is the fact that we speak English as our language! We have also adopted many of their customs. It is also thought that our Constitution was directly influenced by the British Magna Carta.
All three nationalities greatly influenced who we are, where we live, what we do, and how we talk!
DEFINITIONS settlements: the process of establishing a permanent home in a new region British: of Great Britain Dutch: of the Netherlands colony: a group of people settled in another land who are ruled by the government of their native land rules: a law of conduct created by an authority (e.g. parents, school, or government) artisan: a skilled person who makes something with his/her hands patroon: rich Dutchmen who were given money by the Dutch government in return for supplying "farmers" for New Netherlands in the new country.
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Oswego City School District |
The
British King then renamed it New York, after James, Duke of York, and set up a goal to increase the population.
He
immediately changed the names of Albany and New York City (see chart above),
but the British
encouraged people from different cultures and countries to live
here. At one time they say there were 18 different languages being
spoken on the streets of New York City! 
New
arrivals kept coming to the New World. Included in those groups
were
the French Huguenots. They wanted to practice a Protestant belief
and were forced from France for doing so. In New York, the
Huguenots could practice their religion, so in 1678 they settled
up the Hudson River Valley around the present day cities of New Paltz
and New Rochelle. Their influences on the area were many. Many
French names are still found there. The Huguenots were a very hard
working people, and they showed and shared their new farming methods
with other settlers. They also believed in men and women having equal
opportunities for education. They also provided the area with many
fine 
