In 1962 Peter Minuit bought the island Manhattan from the Indians for small goods worth about sixty Dutch guilders. In 1628 there lived 270 people in the small city. The name of the city was then New Amsterdam. In 1664 there were already about 120 houses and 1000 inhabitants. The English took the city in that year; they changed the name in New York. In 1776 the American colonies wanted to become independend of England. In 1783 England recognizes the independence of the united states. In 1790 there lived 33.000 people. New York becomes the capital of the new union. George Washington becomes the first president to live in New York. In 1797 Albany becomes the capital of the states. In 1886 the statue of liberty has been made at the port of New York. In 1890 there were about 1,4 million people living in this city