Dutch Immigration
to America
by Lulu
According to the American Community Survey in 2013, around
4.5 million Americans claim total or partial Dutch heritage. Today the most of
the Dutch Americans live in Michigan, California, Montana, Minnesota, Illinois,
New York, Wisconsin, Idaho, Utah, Iowa, Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania
(Wikipedia.org).
When did the
Dutch arrived in America?
The Dutch first arrived in America in 1609 when the
Dutch East India Company vessel De Halve Maen, commanded by the English
captain, Henry Hudson, laid anchor at Sandy Hook, before sailing up what is now
known as the Hudson River (Simkin, John, 2014).
Dutch settlement in Americas started in 1613 with
New Amsterdam, which was exchanged with the British for the current Suriname at
the Treaty of Breda (1667) and renamed New York City. The British state divided the Dutch colony in New
Netherland into two parts, called New York and New Jersey. Further Dutch
immigration took place in the 19th and 20th centuries (Wikipedia.org).
Why did Dutch
leave their country?
New Amsterdam's name was changed to New York, in
honor of the Duke of York, who organized the mission. The colony of New
Netherland was established by the Dutch West India Company in 1624 and grew to
encompass all of present-day New York City and parts of Long Island,
Connecticut, and New Jersey (History.com).
Many reasons why European colonists chose to settle
in New Netherland. Many fled political and religious persecution. Others hoped
to improve their condition by owning their own land or by participating in the
fur trade. Some came as servants. Reports from New Netherland were so favorable
that it seemed worth the risk of sailing to the New World.
Dangers included the possibility of death by disease
or due to a storm at sea. Some settlers died as a result of wars between the
Dutch and local Indians. And there were other costs. Colonists risked the possibility
that they might never be reunited with their families in Europe.
Some of the settlers were officials, soldiers, or
employees of the Dutch West India Company, the corporation that governed New
Netherland. Others were independent farmers, artisans, traders, or merchants.
Some settlers worked for other colonists as contract laborers or indentured
servants. Others were brought to New Netherland as slaves (newnetherlandinstitute.org).
Why did Dutch
immigrate to America?
During the beginning of nineteenth century, huge of
Dutch farmers were forced by high taxes and low wages, so they started
immigrating to America because it was perceived as the land of economic
opportunity. They settled down in the Midwest, especially Michigan, Illinois
and Iowa (Wikipedia.org).
References:
2019, Dutch Americans, accessed 28 September
2019, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Americans>
Simkin, John. 2014.
Dutch Immigration. Spartacus Educational.
Accessed 28 September 2019, <https://spartacus-educational.com/USAEholland.htm>
What
was New Netherland?, accessed 28
September 2019, <https://www.newnetherlandinstitute.org/education/for-students/fun-re/what-was-new-netherland/why-did-they-leave-europe/>
History.com. 2019. New
Amsterdam becomes New York. A&E
Television Networks. Accessed 28 September 2019, <https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/new-amsterdam-becomes-new-york>
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