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Peter
Stuyvesant - "Stubborn Pete"
During his term as governor, Peter Stuyvesant had many great accomplishments
that helped make Manhattan what it is today. He made life safer for the
people by starting the "rattle watch." A watchman, similar to
a policeman, would carry a wooden rattle while policing the streets. If
he saw a crime or fire, he would shake the rattle to warn people and get
help. |
A picture of Peter
Stuyvesant and a watchman holding rattles. |
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Fires
were very dangerous and could cause a lot of damage to many buildings,
so he made sure chimneys were built better and kept clean. He had many
dirt roads replaced with cobblestone. He established a hospital in New
Amsterdam and a settlement in what was to become New Jersey.
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the 1650s, the Swedish had established successful trading posts along the
Delaware River. The Dutch West Indies Company ordered Peter Stuyvesant to
eliminate the competition. Peter did just that by capturing the Swedish
territory. This threatened the British who were settled in New England and
Long Island. Therefore, the British began to invade New Netherland. The
Dutch built a wall in New Amsterdam to defend themselves against the British.
The wall stood where Wall Street is today. The British proved to be stronger.
In 1664, Stuyvesant was forced by King Charles II of England to surrender
his land. New Amsterdam was given a new name by the British, "New York."
New York was named after British royalty, specifically, the Duke of York. |
Peter Stuyvesant surrendering
to the British.
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