How New York City built and ran its early government This book surveys the city’s municipal life from its Dutch beginnings to the mid‑18th century, showing how rules, offices, and city finances formed the core of governance.
Split into two parts, the work covers pre‑1731 developments and the 1731–1776 period, with clear chapters on government, regulation of trade, land and streets, and public services. It combines analysis of charters, court records, and city documents to explain how the city organized itself, collected revenue, and managed essential functions like fire protection, charters, and public works.
What you’ll experience
- A look at the evolution of the city’s governing bodies and key officials
- Insights into how trade, industry, and taxation affected urban life
- Discussion of public works, docks, ferries, and street regulation
- An authoritative view of source material and historical context for colonial New York
Ideal for readers of municipal history, colonial American politics, and the development of New York City.
Nonfiction