Curated OER
The Restoration Colonies
Explore the earliest American cities in this presentation, which details the demographics, geography, and characteristics of New York, Pennsylvania, and the Carolinas, among others. These slides help to fill in the gap between the...
Curated OER
Comparison of American Colonies
Students explore the lifestyles of the American colonies. They conduct various activities according to their grade level including jigsaw research and creating a poster. Lesson includes primary source readings related to the topic.
Read Works
Plymouth Colony
Read about the tumultuous beginning to the United States with an informational text passage about Colonial America. As young researchers peruse an article about the arrival of the Mayflower, the settlers' relationship to the neighboring...
Curated OER
The First Jews in America
Students investigate how Jews established roots in America. Students determine the difference between religious tolerance and separation of church and state. Students participate in a role-play activity using primary and secondary...
Other
U.s. History Images: New Amsterdam
Provides six historical illustrations of the New Amsterdam colony on Manhattan Island.
PBS
Pbs: Cet: Africans in America: The First Slave Auction at New Amsterdam in 1655
This website contains a general description of the time and reason for the first large slave auction held in the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam. Click on Teacher's Guide for teaching resources.
Other
New Netherland Institute: New Amsterdam Kitchen: Domestic Life in New Netherland
Provides information about the foods eaten by settlers in New Amsterdam and how they prepared it. Describes the different utensils and dishes that were used for cooking and for food consumption.
University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame: The New Netherland Colony
After a fairly detailed introduction of Dutch history, this site gives in-depth information about the founding of the colony of New Netherlands and the Dutch West India Company. It discusses the political, social, and economic aspects of...
Other
Adriaen Block, the Discovery of Long Island Sound and the New Netherlands Colony
An interesting and comprehensive essay on Adriaen Block, the development of New Netherlands, Dutch trade, and the impact of the Little Ice Age in Europe on fur trade in North America.
Other
Internet Archive: Child Life in the Colonies: New Amsterdam [Pdf]
A book by Virginia Baker that was published in 1907. It tells the story of a Dutch settler child's life 200 years previously. It recounts Henry Hudson's discovery of the Hudson River, which paved the way for the Dutch settlement of New...
National Geographic
National Geographic: Society: A History of Trade in New York City
A lesson based on the New York City seal that explores the trading relationship between the Dutch and Native Americans in New Amsterdam.
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: The End of New Netherland
Essay on the fight between Dutch and British colonial powers over New Amsterdam which eventually resulted in British dominance and the renaming of New Netherland to New York.
Other
New Netherland Institute: What Was New Netherland?
Provides a detailed history of New Netherland. Looks at why it was founded, where settlers came from, how they reached there, why they came, their homes, occupations, possessions, diet, childhood, school, play, and what eventually...
Other
New Netherland Institute: Virtual Tour of New Netherland
A comprehensive site on the colonization of New Netherland by the Dutch. Find maps, pictures, and artifacts on this interesting tour.
Library of Congress
Loc: Exploration and Settlement: Duke's Map of New York
A Dutch map from 1661 showing New Amsterdam. Part of a map collection from the British Library.
PBS
Wnet: Thirteen: Interactive Map: Manhattan in 1609: Dutch New York
Explore Dutch New York through this historical interactive map and learn what wildlife, landscape, and people lived there in 1609 compared with today. Click on 'Interactives' for additional resources, e.g., a 1626 letter from Peter...
Digital History
Digital History: The Middle Colonies: New York
Despite the title of this article, it discusses the settlement of New Netherland by the Dutch and explains the reasons for the settlement, and why settlers were not attracted to the area.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Middle Colonies: New Netherland to New York
Ironically, Henry Hudson, English explorer, was in the employ of the Dutch West India Company when he explored what is now the New York area. Read about the colony the Dutch established at the mouth of the Hudson River and see how the...
Library of Congress
Loc: Today in History: May 4: Early Manhattan & Bird Day
Read about the early history of New York City and a special day in May called Bird Day. Page contains images and hyperlinks to other resources, such as historical maps and documents.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Early Dutch Colonies
Information about Dutch colonization in America. There is mention of Peter Minuit and Peter Stuyvesant.
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: The First Dutch Settlers
Read about the Dutch colonization of the Hudson River Valley in this comprehensive essay about the Dutch in America. Pages 3-7 deal with the Dutch colonies.
Other
On the Trail of Our Ancestors: Courtship and Marriage Customs
Site provides a history of courtship and marriage customs in the Dutch colonies of New York, beginning in the early to mid-1600s.
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: The Middle Colonies, 1609 1702
A map of the Middle Colonies of New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania, with portions of New York, Maryland and Delaware, showing the early European settlements in the area from 1609 to 1702. The map shows the boundary between West New...
Other
On the Trail of Our Ancestors: A Bit of Dutch History
An article on the Dutch Republic and the establishment and settlement of a Dutch colony in what later became the English colony of New Jersey.