Big Apple History . Early New York . Peaceful Surrender


	British ship off Manhattan

When one country takes over another country's land, there's usually bloodshed. The way in which the Dutch colony "Nieu Amsterdam" became English colony "New York" is a remarkable exception.

In August 1664, four English warships arrived in New Amsterdam's harbor. The English sent a letter to Peter Stuyvesant, requesting his surrender. The letter promised that every man would be guaranteed "life and liberty." The stubborn Stuyvesant didn't reply. When he then received another letter, he tore it up.

A concerned crowd eventually forced Stuyvesant to piece the letter back together and read it aloud. The angry Stuyvesant went to Fort Amsterdam and prepared to open fire on the British. Before he could take action, Stuyvesant was handed a petition signed by New Amsterdam's prominent citizens, including his own son. The petition stated that if Stuyvesant refused to surrender, the result would be "misery, sorrow . . . and . . . the absolute ruin and destruction of about fifteen hundred innocent souls . . ." Stuyvesant had no choice; he had to surrender.

In September 1664, the British renamed New Amsterdam "New York," for the Duke of York, the king's brother, who now ran the colony. He generously allowed the Dutch colonists to stay on, with their property intact, if they took an oath to the king.

Illustration: courtesy of the Museum of the City of New York