The Thirteen Colonies - New York [Hardcover]

Adam Woog (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 27, 2001 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: The Thirteen Colonies

The colony of New York, with its vital waterways, vast forests, and strategic location, was one of the most important of all the Thirteen Colonies. It was the site of About one-third of the Revolutionary War's battles, and its chief city served as our nation's first capital. (20020801)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A compilation of excerpts from primary documents whose subjects range from the origins of European settlement in the New World to the establishment of the Bill of Rights. The sources provide coverage of certain underrepresented groups, with letters from women, examples of rules that children should follow, and a bill asking African Americans to enlist in the Continental Army. The shortened versions of the documents offer a good introduction to materials written at the beginning of our nation's history and allow students to grasp some of the main issues. The editor does a good job of explaining material that could be difficult by including a translation in brackets of words that are not common today."
-- School Library Journal (October 2002) (School Library Journal 20020401)

"These titles will be useful for reports."
-- School Library Journal (August 2002) (School Library Journal 20020401)

"Written in a clear, concise conversational tone, these overviews present information effectively."
-- School Library Journal (April 2002) (School Library Journal 20020401)

The language is tighter, more succint, and on a higher reading level."
-- School Library Journal (April 2002) (School Library Journal )

"Solid additions on subjects that are always researched in schools, made even more valuable because of the primary-source material."
-- School Library Journal (April 2002) (School Library Journal )

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 79 pages
• Publisher: Lucent Books; 1 edition (September 27, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560069929
• ISBN-13: 978-1560069928
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,068,209 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The history of the most diverse colony, that of New York, June 3, 2003

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Thirteen Colonies - New York (Hardcover)

In telling the individual stories of The Thirteen Colonies this look at New York by Adam Woog falls in the middle between those colonies always covered in some detail by American history textbooks, Virginia and Massachusetts Bay, and those largely ignored, Connecticut and Georgia. This becomes a matter of some importance because the rule of thumb in this series is that it is the lesser known colonies that receive the superior treatment, while those dealing with the first and foremost colonies are at a disadvantage. In this regard, Woog's look at "New York" is like the former: an informative volume for young readers that establishes the uniqueness of New York as a colony.

Woog introduces New York Colony as the only one of the original thirteen to develop and flourish under a nation other than England, having been founded by traders from Holland in the early 1600s. More importantly, the colony from its earliest days was more culturally diverse than its neighbors, a trait that continues to this day. The book follows the standard five chapter format of the series: (1) The Origins of New York Colony traces the first traders and settlers as well as the native tribes living in the area, ending with the surrender of New Amsterdam to the English; (2) Forming the Colony deals with a wide variety of topics, from the decimation of the Indians and the practice of piracy (including Captain Kidd), to the Zenger case and the Leisler Rebellion; (3) Daily Life in the Colony looks at the daily routine in New York in colonial times; (4) New York's Role in the Rebellion begins with how the Stamp Act was resisted in the city of New York and the military campaign in the colony, most notably the disastrous Battle of Long Island; and (5) New York After the Revolution covers creating a state constitution and New York City becoming the nation's capital, as well as the early days of the state through the end of the 18th-century.

If anything Woog sacrifices depth for breadth in this book, because "New York" covers a lot of ground. The book is illustrated with historic etchings and other artwork. The goal here is to explore the roots of the United States by tracing the history of the New York colony from its earliest European arrivals, its indigenous people, and its growth. Woog succeeds in giving a distinct picture of New York, so young readers will have no problem understanding how it was different from the other colonies. These books make a point of using primary and secondary quotations, which keep the history lesson personal, and the back includes a time line, annotated bibliographies, and an index. The result is an solid book that students can use to research colonial life in general and the history of the New York colony in particular.