Peter Minuit founded the New York colony in 1626.

His family fled from Germany to the Netherlands to escape religious persecution from Catholics.

Peter Minuit was a merchant and undertook several journeys to East India and Brazil gaining an excellent reputation as a trader and an honest man.

Was not dominated by a specific religion. This gave ways for religious freedom

The religious groups of New York Colony were separated into different areas based on geography.

Religion was a minor factor to most of the colony's first colonist.

There are mountains in the northeast and lowlands from Lake Ontario along the Canadian border.

Had a mild climate with warm summers and mild winters suitable for farming and agriculture.

There is a river that runs through New York called the Hudson River.

Colonists made their living in a variety of ways: fur, lumber trading, shipping, the slave trade, and as merchants and tradesman in the colony's towns.

Corn was the most popular,since it could be eaten by people and animals.

Exported agricultural products and natural resources but were also able to manufacture iron ore products such as plows, tools, kettles, locks, nails and large blocks of iron.