1498

Italian explorer John Cabot ( Giovanni Caboto ) explores the coast for the English

1604

Samuel de Champlain (1567-1635) French explorer and navigator maps the coast

1606

James I grants charter to Plymouth Company (also called Virginia Company of Plymouth, organized 1606 by King James I of England to establish colonies in America

1609

Henry Hudson (1565-1611) English explorer and navigator discovered Newark Bay and establishes the Dutch colony of New Netherland

1614

Captain John Smith (1580-1631) maps the coast

1638

Swedish settlement led by Peter Minuet starting the the New Sweden Colony

1646

Peter Stuyvesant (1602-1672) became Dutch Governor of the New Netherlands

1655

The Dutch defeat the Swedes on the Delaware and Stuyvesant took possession of the New Sweden Colony

1664

King Charles II totally ignored any Dutch claims and gave the entire country to his brother James, Duke of York

1664

The Dutch lose New Amsterdam to The British which is re-named as New York, after the Duke of York

1675

1675 - 1677: King Philip's War so named after Metacomet of the Wampanoag tribe, who was called Philip by the English. The war was bloody and bitterly fought by the colonists against the Native Indians. During King Philip's War, up to one third of America's white population was wiped out. This war proved to be the final struggle by the Native Americans of New York

1756

1756 - 1763: The Seven Years War (French and Indian War) due to disputes over land is won by Great Britain. France gives England all French territory east of the Mississippi River, except New Orleans. The Spanish give up east and west Florida to the English in return for Cuba.

For additional facts and information about Colonial America refer to the New York Colony

1775

1775 - 1783 - The American Revolution creates the United States of America. The Revolution was due to the British burden of taxes and total power to legislate any laws governing the American colonies. George Washingtonled the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War (American War of Independence

1776

July 4, 1776 - United States Declaration of Independence

1778

July 10, 1778 - France declares war against Britain and makes an alliance with the American revolutionary forces

1783

September 3, 1783 - The Treaty of Paris is signed by the victorious United States and the defeated Great Britain

1788

Statehood - The Date that New York was admitted to the Union - July 26, 1788. Constitution - New York was the 11th State to be admitted to the Union. State Motto - " Crescit eundo " the State Motto is translated as " It Grows as it Goes "

1803

The Louisiana Purchase - In 1803, the United States bought the Louisiana Territory from France. The U.S. Secretary of State, James Madison paid 15 million dollars for the land

1812

1812 - 1815: The War of 1812 between U.S. and Great Britain, ended in a stalemate but confirmed America's Independence

1859

John Brown raided Harpers Ferry and set in motion events that led directly to the outbreak of the Civil War.

1861

1861 - 1865: The American Civil War. outbreak of the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln,a known opponent of slavery, was elected president and in 1861 the South Secedes. The initial Secession of South Carolina was followed by the secession of Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. These eleven states eventually formed the Confederate States of America. The bombardment of Fort Sumter was the opening engagement of the American Civil War.

1865

The surrender of Robert E. Lee on April 9 1865 signalled the end of the Confederacy

1865

1865 December 6 - The Abolishment of Slavery. The Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified, thus officially abolishing slavery

1865

The surrender of Robert E. Lee on April 9 1865 signalled the end of the Confederacy

1898

1898-1901 The Spanish American War. On December 10, 1898 the Treaty of Paris the US annexes Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines.

New York Timeline

Origin of the State name - Named after the Duke of York and Albany, the brother of King Charles II of England in 1664.

Privacy Statement

Cookie Policy

© 2017 Siteseen Ltd