Editing Middle Colonies (section)

==Province of New York==
{{main|Province of New York|New Netherland}}

The first Dutch settlements in the New York area appeared around 1613. The English captured the [[New Netherland]] Colony from the Dutch in 1664, renaming it the Province of New York after the King's brother, the [[Duke of York]] (later King [[James II of England|James II]]).<ref name=Kammen/> The Dutch recaptured the colony in July 1673 during the [[Third Anglo-Dutch War]], but gave it back to the English under the [[Treaty of Westminster (1674)|Treaty of Westminster]] in exchange for [[Suriname]]. The Duke of York never governed the colony himself: he instead appointed governors, councils, and other officers to run the government. [[Richard Nicolls]] served as the first governor of New York.

In 1665, the Province of New Jersey split from New York; however, the [[New York-New Jersey Line War]] continued until the final borders were decided in 1769, and approved by the legislatures and the King in 1772 and 1773 respectively.  A Colonial Assembly convened in October 1683, making New York the last colony to have an assembly. A constitution was drafted and passed on October 30, 1683, giving the colonists many rights, including the rights to [[no taxation without representation]]. However, upon learning of the constitution, James II declared it void.<ref name=Kammen/>

When the Duke of York became King James II of England, New York became a royal province. In May 1688 the province briefly became part of the [[Dominion of New England]]. When James II was overthrown, the citizens of New York rebelled against the Royal Governor in [[Leisler's Rebellion]].<ref>Jerome R.  Reich, ''Leisler's Rebellion: A Study of Democracy in New York, 1664-1720'' (1953)</ref> When [[Henry Sloughter]] became governor in March 1691, the rebellion was crushed and its leader, [[Jacob Leisler]] was arrested, tried, and executed for treason. New York's charter and constitution were reinstated soon after. In April 1775, [[Patriot (American Revolution)|American patriots]] formed the [[New York Provincial Congress]] to replace the assembly. Governor [[William Tryon]] and all royal officials were forced from the colony on October 19, 1775. Colonial status ended for the new state with the [[United States Declaration of Independence]] in July 1776.