The Imperial and Political Motivations behind the English Conquest of New Netherland

Abstract

This essay focuses on the question of why England conquered the Dutch colony of New Netherland in 1664. It looks beyond the traditional economic arguments to focus on the overlooked political and imperial motivations behind the colonial takeover. It argues that English imperial authorities of the Restoration regime came to see the Dutch presence in North America as exacerbating the independence of the already unruly New England colonists. They feared that if left unchecked, the Dutch population could hinder their attempts to consolidate political control in their North American colonies. Similarly, the Dutch presence served as a base from which the United Provinces could strike against the English possessions in North America. For these reasons, as well as for reasons of economic benefits, the English imperial authorities decided that the conquest of New Netherland was a crucial component in their plan to consolidate colonial control in North America.