History of New York
New York became part of the United States because about one third of all the battles of the Revolutionary War took place in New York. The state Constitution was enacted in 1777. New York became the 11th state to ratify the United States Constitution on July 26, 1788. The first governor of New York was George Clinton. He was kept governor from 1801 to 1804. In 1805, he was elected vice president of the United States, a position he held under Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, until his death in 1812.The state name originated from the given name from the Duke of York.
Before Europeans began to arrive in the 16th century, New York was inhabited mainly by Algonquian- and Iroquoian-speaking Native Americans.One of the first explorers were John Cabot, Giovanni Verrazano, Jacques Cartier, Henry Hudson, and Samuel de Champlain. European discovery of New York was led by the French in 1524 and the first land claim came in 1609 by the Dutch. The Dutch settlement was established at the southern tip of Manhattan Island which served as the seat of the colonial government in the New Netherland territory.
Before Europeans began to arrive in the 16th century, New York was inhabited mainly by Algonquian- and Iroquoian-speaking Native Americans.One of the first explorers were John Cabot, Giovanni Verrazano, Jacques Cartier, Henry Hudson, and Samuel de Champlain. European discovery of New York was led by the French in 1524 and the first land claim came in 1609 by the Dutch. The Dutch settlement was established at the southern tip of Manhattan Island which served as the seat of the colonial government in the New Netherland territory.