History of New York: description, periods of formation, interesting facts, best museums. History of New York An excerpt characterizing the History of New York
with districts before consolidation
History of the City of New York (before 1664)
Before the Europeans, this territory had settlements of indigenous people, Indians - the Delaware and Metaac tribes. Italian-born French navigator Giovanni da Verrazzano, who named the place Nouvelle Angoulême(fr. Nouvelle-Angouleme), sailed to New York Bay in 1524, but the colony was not founded.
The city's true history begins with the Dutch search for a quick route to Asia. Henry Hudson, an Englishman in the service of the Dutch East India Company who was seeking access to the Pacific Ocean, again reached New York Bay in 1609 and sailed north along the Hudson River to the future city of Albany and along Manhattan. With the return to the Netherlands, the East India Company concluded that the site was ideal for the construction of the first Dutch colony in America.
New York City grew as an economic center thanks to the policies of Alexander Hamilton (he was the first Secretary of State for the Treasury) and the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825.
After the American Revolutionary War, several thousand people moved from New England to New York. In 1820, the city's population was 95% American-born. In the -1840s, New York's strength and financial power grew.
Immigration from Ireland -1850 began for economic reasons. The Great Irish Famine forced millions of people to move to New York.
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Literature
- Archdeacon, Thomas J. New York City, 1664-1710: Conquest and Change (1976)
- Burrows, Edwin G. & Wallace, Mike. Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999. ISBN 0-19-511634-8
- Caro, Robert. The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York. (1973)
- Jackson, Kenneth T. (ed.), The Encyclopedia of New York City. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1995. ISBN 0-300-05536-6
- Jackson, Kenneth T. and Roberts, Sam (eds.) The Almanac of New York City (2008)
- Greene, Evarts Boutelle et all, American Population before the Federal Census of 1790, 1993, ISBN 0-8063-1377-3
- Kessner, Thomas. Fiorello H. LaGuardia and the Making of Modern New York(1989) the most detailed standard scholarly biography
- Siegel, Fred and Siegel, Harry. The Prince of the City: Giuliani, New York and the Genius of American Life(2005), analytical academic study
- Slayton, Robert A. Empire Statesman: The Rise and Redemption of Al Smith,(2001), 480pp, the standard scholarly biography;
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An excerpt characterizing the History of New York
The Battle of Borodino, with the subsequent occupation of Moscow and the flight of the French, without new battles, is one of the most instructive phenomena in history.
All historians agree that external activities states and peoples, in their clashes among themselves, are expressed by wars; that directly, as a result of greater or lesser military successes, the political power of states and peoples increases or decreases.
No matter how strange the historical descriptions are of how some king or emperor, having quarreled with another emperor or king, gathered an army, fought with the enemy army, won a victory, killed three, five, ten thousand people and, as a result, conquered the state and an entire people of several millions; no matter how incomprehensible it may be why the defeat of one army, one hundredth of all the forces of the people, forced the people to submit, all the facts of history (as far as we know it) confirm the justice of the fact that greater or lesser successes of the army of one people against the army of another people are the reasons or, according to at least significant signs of an increase or decrease in the strength of nations. The army was victorious, and the rights of the victorious people immediately increased to the detriment of the vanquished. The army suffered defeat, and immediately, according to the degree of defeat, the people are deprived of their rights, and when their army is completely defeated, they are completely subjugated.
This has been the case (according to history) from ancient times to the present day. All Napoleon's wars serve as confirmation of this rule. According to the degree of defeat of the Austrian troops, Austria is deprived of its rights, and the rights and strength of France increase. The French victory at Jena and Auerstätt destroys the independent existence of Prussia.
But suddenly in 1812 the French won a victory near Moscow, Moscow was taken, and after that, without new battles, not Russia ceased to exist, but the army of six hundred thousand ceased to exist, then Napoleonic France. It is impossible to stretch the facts to the rules of history, to say that the battlefield in Borodino remained with the Russians, that after Moscow there were battles that destroyed Napoleon’s army.
After the Borodino victory of the French, there was not a single general battle, but not a single significant one, and the French army ceased to exist. What does it mean? If this were an example from the history of China, we could say that this phenomenon is not historical (a loophole for historians when something does not fit their standards); if the matter concerned a short-term conflict, in which small numbers of troops were involved, we could accept this phenomenon as an exception; but this event took place before the eyes of our fathers, for whom the issue of life and death of the fatherland was being decided, and this war was the greatest of all known wars...
The period of the 1812 campaign from the Battle of Borodino to the expulsion of the French proved that a won battle not only was not the reason for the conquest, but was not even constant sign conquests; proved that the power that decides the fate of peoples lies not in the conquerors, not even in armies and battles, but in something else.
French historians, describing the position of the French army before leaving Moscow, claim that everything in the Great Army was in order, except for the cavalry, artillery and convoys, but there was no fodder to feed the horses and cattle. Nothing could help this disaster, because the surrounding men burned their hay and did not give it to the French.
The won battle did not bring the usual results, because the men Karp and Vlas, who after the French came to Moscow with carts to plunder the city and did not personally show heroic feelings at all, and all the countless number of such men did not carry hay to Moscow for the good money that they They offered it, but they burned it.
Let's imagine two people who went out to duel with swords according to all the rules of fencing art: fencing lasted for quite a long time; suddenly one of the opponents, feeling wounded - realizing that this was not a joke, but concerned his life, threw down his sword and, taking the first club he came across, began to swing it. But let us imagine that the enemy, having so wisely used the best and simplest means to achieve his goal, at the same time inspired by the traditions of chivalry, would want to hide the essence of the matter and would insist that he, according to all the rules of art, won with swords. One can imagine what confusion and ambiguity would arise from such a description of the duel that took place.
The fencers who demanded fighting according to the rules of art were the French; his opponent, who threw down his sword and raised his club, were Russians; people who try to explain everything according to the rules of fencing are historians who wrote about this event.
Since the fire of Smolensk, a war began that did not fit any previous legends of war. The burning of cities and villages, retreat after battles, Borodin’s attack and retreat again, abandonment and fire of Moscow, catching marauders, rehiring transports, guerrilla warfare - all these were deviations from the rules.
Napoleon felt this, and from the very time when he stopped in Moscow in the correct pose of a fencer and instead of the enemy’s sword he saw a club raised above him, he never ceased to complain to Kutuzov and Emperor Alexander that the war was waged contrary to all the rules (as if there were some rules for killing people). Despite the complaints of the French about non-compliance with the rules, despite the fact that the Russians, the people of higher position, seemed for some reason ashamed to fight with a club, but wanted, according to all the rules, to take the position en quarte or en tierce [fourth, third], to make a skillful lunge in prime [the first], etc. - the club of the people's war rose with all its formidable and majestic strength and, without asking anyone's tastes and rules, with stupid simplicity, but with expediency, without considering anything, it rose, fell and nailed the French until those until the entire invasion was destroyed.
According to official statistics, more than 8.4 million people live in New York. According to unofficial data, the metropolis accommodates almost 21 million citizens. Moreover, any resident of an American city can become the hero of the film. It is there that more than 200 films are shot every year.
However, the history of New York is practically unknown to anyone. How did the largest metropolis in the United States arise? What is its peculiarity and what attractions should every tourist who decides to visit Manhattan see? It is worth going into more detail on each question.
What do you know about New York?
Thanks to the developed American film industry, every Russian schoolchild knows that New York is a city that aliens dream of attacking, that it is there that the zombie apocalypse will begin, and also that in the American metropolis there is one modest superhero who will save everyone.
In fact, this is truly unique. Even the territory itself on which New York is located is unusual. Most of it is covered with hills, washed from the northwest and covered by the Allegheny Mountains to the southwest. In the north of the state there is the border with Canada. And the southeast is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
And of course, the city is famous for its architecture and attractions. It is worth seeing with your own eyes the Brooklyn Bridge, the skyscrapers of the metropolis, and also visiting the natural history in New York.
Every day about 13 thousand taxi drivers go to work in the city, and 468 metro stations operate underground and on its surface. At the same time, the metro operates around the clock.
How did the Dutch buy New York for $25?
According to historical data, Indians settled “in Manhattan” 3 thousand years ago. Scientists believe that people lived on the territory of the modern city 10 thousand years ago. However, the history of the creation of New York as an American state began only in the 16th century.
In 1524, Italians arrived in the territory under the leadership of explorer Giovanni Verrazano. The scientist wanted to study the Hudson River. Later the Dutch came to the island. They were of little interest in science, they seized the lands and declared that this was New Netherlands (according to another version, New Amsterdam).
To prevent the indigenous people from bothering them too much, Fort Amsterdam was erected in Manhattan. A year later, the governor of New Netherlands paid off the Indians. Peter Minuit bought the future largest metropolis for metal trinkets, jewelry and clothing worth a total of $25. After the deal of the century, slaves from Africa began to be imported into Manhattan.
English colony
At the end of the summer of 1664, the British came to New York. The history of the city tells that the Dutch surrendered their New Netherland without a fight. Richard Nicholson became the governor of the English settlement. It was he who gave the city its modern name. The governor named the future metropolis in honor of his brother, King James 2, Duke of York.
The events themselves took place during the war between the Dutch and the British. 9 years after the shameful surrender of the city, the indignant Dutch regained the land and named it New Orange. True, a year later (in 1674) New York again became English under the Treaty of Westminster.
Residents of the city, of course, were not happy with such frequent changes of power, so at the end of the 17th century the history of New York was closely connected with internal uprisings. The largest occurred in 1689-1691. After him, the city lived peacefully for almost 100 years. Its borders expanded, hospitals, schools, and universities were opened.
Independent New York
In 1775 she could not pass by New York. Moreover, several battles took place in the city itself. And the Battle of Brooklyn led to a terrible fire that destroyed most of the metropolis. The British did not completely give up the city. Only two months after the war, New York became American - November 25, 1783.
This did not prevent the metropolis from becoming the first capital of the United States. In addition, it was here that the inauguration of the first president, George Washington, took place. By the way, modern tourists can see with their own eyes the most significant events in the life of the city by visiting the New York History Museum.
It should be noted that the metropolis itself grew and developed thanks to immigrants from New England and Ireland. At the beginning of the 19th century, the population of New York quadrupled and exceeded 1.2 million residents.
The civil war between the North and the South somewhat stopped the construction of the city, but after its end, New York began to develop with renewed vigor. In 1886, the French gave the Statue of Liberty to the United States. At the same time, the first skyscraper appeared in the metropolis - the Tower Building.
What state is New York in?
The city is located in the state of the same name. The official history of New York State began on July 26, 1788. It was on that day that the region entered the United States.
What is noteworthy: the capital of the state was not the largest metropolis in America, but the city of Olabani. Moreover, officially 20 million people live in the state, almost half are residents of New York City.
The state has its own motto, which in Latin is Excelsior, which means “Weight above.” This is probably due to the fact that the area in which it is located consists of hills.
The metropolis itself does not have a motto, but it has two nicknames - “Capital of the World” and “Big Apple”. In addition, New York City is known throughout the world for the fact that it is where the UN headquarters is located.
City of skyscrapers
At the beginning of the last century, the metropolis became one of the centers of trade and industry. Even then, land in New York was expensive, and there was no room for construction. The city began to grow not in breadth, but in height.
The history of New York is closely connected with the construction of skyscrapers. Almost every high-rise building in the city has its own name. Already in 1907, the West Street Building, 99 meters high, was built. And four years later, the 246-meter-high Woolworths grew in the city.
The New Yorkers did not stop there, and in the 30s the first buildings were built that exceeded the 300-meter mark. The Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building are 319 and 381 meters high, respectively.
In 1971, the tragically famous Twin Towers (417 and 415 meters) were built. For a long time these were the tallest skyscrapers in the world.
New York is still building skyscrapers. Thus, in 2013, the Freedom Tower “grew” in the city with a height of 541 meters.
Brooklyn Bridge and Statue of Liberty
Bridges are almost as important as skyscrapers for the architecture of the city: Williamsburg, Manhattan, Queensboro Bridge. But the most famous, thanks to cinema, is the Brooklyn Bridge.
This unique hanging structure was built back in 1883. At that time, it was the largest suspension bridge in the world, as well as the only viaduct whose construction included steel rods.
Three years after the construction of the bridge, the Statue of Liberty appeared in New York. It was a gift from France to the Americans as a sign of friendship between peoples. There are as many as 324 steps leading to the top of the statue, and 192 to the pedestal.
Today it is the pride of every New Yorker. However, at the end of the 19th century, the builders encountered financial difficulties. There wasn't enough money for the Statue of Liberty. Then both countries staged a large-scale fundraising campaign. Concerts and lotteries were organized. And while the French happily responded to the call to collect the missing amount, the Americans were in no hurry to part with the money. An article by the famous journalist Joseph Pulitzer, who criticized his compatriots, helped. After the publication, US residents rushed to donate money for construction.
Natural History Museum
The metropolis is home to one of the most beloved museums in the world - the Museum in New York, any resident or guest of the city can visit it.
Americans are proud that this particular museum houses half a million volumes of books on natural history. Visitors are more fascinated by the halls of the museum.
So, on the ground floor you can see exhibits of people on different stages development of humanity. There is the famous “Lucy” (Australopithecus skeleton), “Peking Man” and many others.
The second floor is especially loved by girls - there are over 100 thousand pieces of precious stones there. There is also a hall in which meteorites are stored, and a hall with fossils and other extinct ancient animals.
Ups and downs
As you can see, the history of New York has had its ups and downs. The 70s of the last century were remembered for the economic and social crisis; in the 90s, new wave immigrants (mostly from the former Soviet Union), and the city began to develop again. Then the “dot-com” boom happened (roughly reminiscent of modern startups), and young people went into business.
And of course, when talking about the history of the city, one cannot help but mention the tragic date - September 11, 2001, when a terrorist attack claimed thousands of lives and destroyed the two tallest skyscrapers in New York.
Nowadays, the metropolis is developing again, increasing the number of its residents and erecting new buildings.
Yulia Rostovskaya
New York today is undoubtedly one of the most attractive cities in the world, attracting people from all over the world. It is a financial, commercial, political, and cultural center, so its importance both for the United States of America and for the whole world is colossal. What historical path has this wonderful city traveled and how did it achieve its greatness?
Before the Europeans, the territory of New York, like many other modern American cities, was occupied by Indians, in particular the Manahattow and Canarsie tribes. After Christopher Columbus discovered America, interest in this continent grew rapidly. Already in 1524, the Italian Giovanni da Verrazano, who is considered to be the discoverer of this area, reached New York Harbor. However, the initiative to explore this territory was taken over by the Dutch East India Company, and in 1609, the Englishman Henry Hudson (Hudson), working for it, sailed along the river currently named after him and discovered the island of Manhattan. 16 years later, in 1625, the Dutch founded their first settlement in America, in the south of Manhattan, where they built a fort, which they called Fort Amsterdam. However, a year later, something very unusual happened: the Dutch did not conquer, but bought the entire territory of modern Manhattan from the Indians, after which the territory expanded significantly and was renamed New Amsterdam. At the same time, the Dutch brought the first African slaves there.
At that time, the main source of income for the settlers of New Amsterdam was the sale of beaver pelts, from which hats were made in Europe. According to some versions, the Indians taught the settlers how to extract beaver pelts, and the Indians often exchanged these pelts for something. In 1636, settlers bought the territory of modern Brooklyn from them, and in 1641, the Dutchman Bronk also bought part of the land now known as the Bronx area.
In 1653, New Amsterdam received the status of a city, after which a wall was erected there to protect against attacks by the British (now the most famous street in New York, Wall Street, is located on the site of this wall). However, this fortification did not help the Dutch defend their possessions, and in 1664 the British finally conquered them. The Dutch did not even resist, but simply surrendered to the British troops. Richard Nichols became the governor, and it was he who renamed New Amsterdam to New York in honor of the British Duke of York, who organized this victorious expedition. In 1673, the Dutch managed to retake New York again, but only for a year, as the city was recaptured by England.
The management of the British brought practically no benefit to the development of the city; on the contrary, it slowed down significantly. The introduction of huge taxes and laws by the English Parliament irritated New Yorkers. Thus, the raising of taxes on tea agitated the residents of New York, and in 1774, a similar “New York Tea Party” took place in the city.
After the outbreak of the War of Independence, a 32,000-strong British army approached the shores of New York; she conquered and maintained power over the city until the end of the war. George Washington, unable to continue resistance, was forced to flee with his squad. There is evidence that the British used the city as a concentration camp for captured Americans, thousands of whom died due to unbearable conditions. After the Peace of Paris was signed and America gained independence, Americans returned to New York on November 25, 1783, and this day was celebrated there for a long time and went down in history as “Evacuation Day.”
In 1788, New York became the first capital of the United States, but this did not last long, since already in 1790 the capital was moved to Philadelphia. Yet, within 2 years, a significant event had happened in this glorious city: it was in New York that the solemn inauguration of the first American President George Washington.
From 1790 to 1820, New York flourished: it developed rapidly, the population increased from 33 to 123 thousand people. In addition, Congress passes a law to issue bonds to reimburse the costs of the Revolutionary War - this fact is assessed by historians as an important prerequisite for the emergence of stock exchanges in NYC. Another innovation was the development of an urban plan for the city, because New York was growing too quickly and spontaneously, it was necessary to streamline and take control of the construction of new buildings. The plan called for the creation of 12 widely spaced avenues running from north to south, and from west to east there were to be 155 smaller streets located much further apart. closer friend to a friend than to the avenue. Thus, unique rectangles were created where buildings could be built without hindrance. And only one street crossed the city diagonally - it was the later famous Broadway.
In the mid-19th century, New York became the commercial capital of the United States, as well as the largest city in America, surpassing even Philadelphia. During the Civil War, the city's population was split between those who supported the Confederacy and those who supported the Union. The fact is that New York had strong trade ties with the south and had no desire to spoil them, much less lose them. These contradictions led to riots and riots, during which people died.
At the end of the Civil War, emigrants from all over the world began to come to New York; this era went down in history as the “migration boom.” From 1892 to the mid-20th century, about 17 million people passed through Ellis Island, where all emigrants first ended up!
Also at the end of the 19th century, the construction of skyscrapers began, which are rightfully considered a symbol of New York today, although skyscrapers are now being built all over the world. Tower Building – the first skyscraper in the city was built in 1889, and after it such well-known buildings as the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building appeared. The last skyscrapers built in New York were the World War II Towers. Shopping Center which were destroyed in the 2001 terrorist attacks. Now the Freedom Tower is being built on the site of the World Trade Center; it is planned to be one of the tallest buildings in the world. Construction will be completed according to preliminary data by the end of 2013.
In 1898, all five districts were united under a single city government. Today, the boroughs of New York City are geographically almost identical to the county lines of that time.
In the 20th century, the city became a significant industrial and financial center. Moreover, the UN headquarters was built in New York, which gave the city special significance. In the 60-70-80s, urban residents migrated to the suburbs, the so-called “single-story America” appeared, and a significant middle class was formed, which to this day plays a large role in the United States. Also, the end of the 20th century is also known negatively for New York: the number of crimes increased significantly, the city became one of the most criminal in the world, but gradually the crime rate decreased, and now New York has become much calmer than 20 years ago.
Short story
New York (English: New York City, until 1664 - New Amsterdam) is a city in the USA, one of the largest metropolises in the world. Population 8,500,500 (2009). Located on the Atlantic Ocean in southeastern New York State. The city administratively consists of 5 boroughs: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island.
New York was founded in early XVII century by Dutch colonists, the original name was New Amsterdam.
The main attractions are located in Manhattan. Among them: historical skyscrapers (Empire State Building, Chrysler Building), Grand Central Station building, Rockefeller Center, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Metropolitan Opera, Museum contemporary art Solomon Guggenheim (painting), American Museum of Natural History (dinosaur skeletons and planetarium), UN Headquarters, Harlem
History of New York City
In the territory that is today occupied by the city of New York, long before the arrival of Europeans, Indian tribes such as Manahattow and Canarsie lived here. This is supported by the discovery of arrowheads and other artifacts in areas of the city that are not built over, such as Inwood Hill Park and Riverside Park. European settlements began in 1626. from the founding of the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam (Nieuw Amsterdam) on the southern outskirts of Manhattan. In 1664, English ships captured the city without encountering resistance from Governor Stuyvesant, and it was renamed New York, in honor of the initiator of this attack, the Duke of York. As a result of the Second Anglo-Dutch War in 1667, the Dutch officially handed over New York to the British and in return received the colony of Suriname.
At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, the present-day area of the city was the scene of important battles. As a result of the Battle of Brooklyn, a large fire started in Brooklyn, in which most of The city burned down, and it fell into British hands until the end of the war, until the Americans took possession of it again in 1783. This day, called "Evacuation Day" (English), was celebrated for a long time in New York.
During the 19th century, the city's population grew rapidly due to the rapid influx of large numbers of immigrants. In 1811, a visionary general plan development of the city, along which the street network was expanded to cover the entire Manhattan. By 1835, New York had overtaken Philadelphia in population to become the largest city in the United States.
During the Civil War, the city's strong trade ties with the South, as well as its growing immigrant population, led to a split between Union and Confederate supporters that reached highest degree in the Draft Riots, the largest civil unrest in American history.
It is believed that the first people appeared on the territory of modern New York more than 11 thousand years ago. Most likely they did not live permanently in these places, but only hunted. About 3 thousand years ago, the territory was inhabited by tribes of Indians who never left this region. The quiet and measured phase of New York's history continued until 1524, when Giovanni Verrazana arrived in New York Harbor. He sailed no further than where the bridge that bears his name now stands. But it was with his voyage that the stage of European discoveries and settlement of these places began.
In 1609, Englishman Henry Hudson, working for the Dutch East India Company, discovered the island of Manhattan and sailed further down the river, exploring territories unknown to Europeans. Currently, the Hudson River is named after this explorer. In 1613, the Dutchman Andrian Block was forced to land with his ship's crew on the island of Manhattan. Their ship burned down at sea, but during the forced winter, with the help of the Indians, the Europeans built a new ship. The following year, 1614, the Dutch founded a colony. It was located on the Hudson River near modern Albany.
Henry Hudson's Indian Encounter Expedition
In 1625, several Dutch families traveled to Manhattan Island and founded a settlement. For protection from Indians and other European countries, Fort Amsterdam was erected in the settlement. But as the colony grew, the name Fort Amsterdam was eventually changed to New Amsterdam. In 1626, an epoch-making event occurred when Peter Minuit bought the territory of modern Manhattan from the Indians. The total cost of the transaction is estimated at $24? It was for this amount that Minuit gave the Indians clothes, metal objects and various trinkets. Many mention this deal as an example of commercial insight, forgetting to mention that the Indians simply did not understand that they were transferring rights to land. Also in 1626, the first black African slaves were brought to New Amsterdam.
Initially, the only source of income for the settlers was the trade in beaver pelts. In the Netherlands, hats were made from them, and the skins themselves were exchanged with the Indians. by 1628 New Amsterdam had 270 inhabitants. In subsequent decades, settlers flocked to the colony from a variety of places. In 1639, the Dane Johannes Bronk moved north of Manhattan, after whom the modern Bronx district of New York is named. In 1654, 23 Jewish refugees from Brazil founded Shearith Israel in what would become New York. In 1657, English Quakers arrived in the colony.
The British appreciated the importance of the colony in the new lands and in subsequent years sought to take possession of it. In August 1664, 450 English soldiers landed in what is now Brooklyn. They were commanded by Colonel Richard Nichols, and their goal was to control the city and establish English rule. The townspeople convinced the Dutch governor, Peter Stuyvesant, not to resist, so Richard Nichols became the first English governor. Nichols renamed the city and named it in honor of the king's brother, the Duke of York, who organized the military expedition. Thus, the city of New York received its modern name. As a result of the war in 1673, Holland regained control over the city, but not for long. The following year, 1674, the British again took possession of the city.
Under British rule, the city's development slowed down. It is not surprising that the townspeople sought to gain as much independence as possible. Taking advantage of the revolution in England in 1688, in May 1689, the German-born merchant Jacob Leisler captured Fort George (formerly Fort Amsterdam) and ruled New York for almost two years. In 1690, he even tried to capture Canada, but was arrested by the British and hanged in May 1691.
English rule in the 1700s increasingly irritated New Yorkers. So in 1764, the English Parliament adopted the Sugar Act, which increased taxes on the trade of sugar and molasses in New York. In 1765, the Stamp Act came into force, causing a storm of discontent in the North American colonies. Protesting, in October 1765, New Yorkers convened a congress and challenged the right of Parliament to collect taxes from the colonies without their consent. In 1766, tensions briefly eased when, after a series of protests, the English Parliament lowered taxes on sugar and molasses and also revoked the Stamp Act. But the calm did not last long. In 1767, parliament passed new laws on duties on goods imported into the colonies, resulting in a series of skirmishes with soldiers in the city. Raising taxes on tea led to the famous Boston Tea Party in 1773. A similar protest occurred in New York in April 1774 and went down in history as the New York Tea Party.
After the start of the War of Independence, 500 British ships with a 32,000-strong army under the command of General William Howe approached New York. American troops under Washington's command resisted but were unable to hold the city. The British captured New York and held it until the end of the war. During the war, the city was used as a concentration camp for captured American soldiers. 11 thousand of them died due to the terrible conditions. During the war, tens of thousands of citizens left the city, which was also twice damaged by fires. The defeat of the British in the war led to the signing of the Paris Peace Treaty on September 3, 1783, according to which America was recognized as independent from England. But the day of the end of the British occupation is considered to be November 25, 1783, when American troops entered the city.
New York, early 20th century
After the War of Independence, the city actively grew and developed. Thus, from 1790 to 1820, the population of New York grew from 33 thousand to 123 thousand people. Thus, by 1820, New York became the largest city in the United States. In 1811, a city planning plan was adopted in New York, regulating the development of the city. Before this, the city grew spontaneously. According to the plan, there were 12 widely spaced avenues from north to south. From east to west, the avenue was crossed by 155 streets, located quite close to each other (61 m). This arrangement created rectangles that were perfect for constructing buildings on these sites. The only street slanting across the slender row of streets was Bloomingdale Road (now Broadway).
With the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825, connecting New York via the Hudson River to the Great Lakes, the city became the commercial capital of the United States. The development of New York was not hindered by either the war with the British of 1812-1815 or the American Civil War. New Yorkers were not eager to accept great participation in the civil war and answered the call with a mutiny that killed more than 100 people. After the Civil War, the city experienced a migration boom. It is estimated that between 1880 and 1919, 17 million people arrived in the United States through New York, many of them joining the ranks of the city's residents.
Famous historical photos of New York in the first half of the 20th century
In 1886, a significant event occurred when the famous “Statue of Liberty” was donated to the city. Although Chicago took the lead in the construction of the very first skyscraper in the world, New York quickly joined the race in the construction of multi-story buildings. In 1889, the Tower Building was built on Broadway by architect Bradford Gilbert, the first skyscraper in New York. Subsequently, the tallest buildings in the world became the Park Row Building (1897, 30 floors), the Singer Tower (1908, 47 floors), and the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company skyscraper (1913, 60 floors). The race culminated in the completion of the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building in 1930. Architect William Van Alen, who designed the Chrysler Building, surpassed the Eiffel Tower in height, and celebrated for several months until H. Craig Severens completed the Empire State Building. The last 102-story skyscraper held the record until the construction of the Center's infamous Twin Towers international trade, destroyed by terrorists in 2001.
Currently, New York, having survived the shock of a terrorist attack, is actively reviving and developing. New York never sleeps; it is the most distinctive city in the world, with a turbulent past and a promising future.
