Amongst the many events leading to the fall of New Amsterdam and its takeover by the English in 1664, rising tensions and conflicts brought about by failed diplomacy between the Natives and the Dutch colonizers caused a substantial amount of damage to the city’s already weakening foundation.
Initially, Dutch relations with the Iroquois tribes were mutually beneficial as each relied on the other to keep trade alive and progressing, with laws in place to govern possible misconduct and ill treatment from both sides. However, the reign of Director-General Kieft brought about increased unrest amongst the Dutch and the tribes as they faced taxation, embargo on alcohol and guns trade, and a bloody crackdown on one of their tribes, the Algonquin in 1643, which led to their defensive attacks on the Dutch. The succession of Director-General position by Stuyvesant brought little change to assist failing ties between the Dutch and the tribes. His meager efforts to moralize the corrupted souls of the Dutch settlers by imposing orthodox principles and enforcing tight measures on their livelihood worsened their condition and no efforts were made to perpetuate peace between the tribes.
A reflection on these lackadaisical governing policies which paid no attention to diplomatic relations served as a lesson for the Dutch as well as future colonizers bringing about great historical change to the ways governments are run today.
