History of New York City
The New York City in United States is like no other. The pace, the vibrancy and the sheer size of the city is enough to intimidate some, but visiting the city is definitely an experience of a lifetime. Travelers from all across the globe visit the city to get a slice of the typical New Yorker’s life and go back with many memories.
New York has endless entertainment options and more than enough places to visit. There are hotels and resorts all across the city that offer New York all inclusive packages that cover the basic costs of the trip like accommodation, food and some sight seeing tours. Anyone who wants to visit this magnificent city should first try and get some knowledge about the history of New York to get a better understanding of its culture.
The first European to come to the city was an Italian, Di Verrazzano in 1524. However, it was Henry Hudson who was given this credit. Verrazzano was met by several Native American tribes when he first set foot in the city.
Soon, New York was filled with many Dutch who then gave the city the name New Amsterdam. Till 1664 the Dutch continued to migrate to the city until the British took control of the island from them. The English had conquered Manhattan with an attack from sea and then later named the city New York. It was only in 1783 that the British left the city and six years later George Washington was elected the president of United States.
In the 1800s the city started thriving because of its economic power and towards the end of the century the New York Stock exchanged opened. The Erie Canal was built in 1825 and its economic impact on the city was tremendous. The city’s ports were the busiest in the world.
The mid-1800s for the city saw diseases, immigration, corruption and a weak economy. The Civil War made things worst. New York City was also the main center for the Draft Riots in 1863 which created quite a lot of uproar. During these years, the local gangs also thrived in the city and illegal deals took place behind closed doors.
The immigrants that migrated to the city added to the history and culture of New York in many ways over the years. It was in 1886 that the Statue of Liberty was built by the French and gifted to America. Several well known museums, bridges and parks were built in the 19th century and its economy continued to grow.
In the 20th century, New York City’s grew and it became one of the most powerful cities in the world. Today, New York has its own different identity unmatched by any other in the world. New York has had a long and eventful history, and over the centuries the city has managed to grow and at the same time has been able to have its roots firmly planted in its colorful culture and history.