In August 1776, hundreds of British ships surrounded New York Harbor. One observer declared that it looked as if all of London were afloat.
Whether New Yorkers had chosen a side or not, they now lived within range of the largest invasion force any of them had ever seen.
But for many New Yorkers, the occupation of their city had already begun. Months earlier, the Continental Army arrived to defend New York. Soldiers barricaded streets, built fortifications, and stationed themselves across lower Manhattan, Governors Island, and Brooklyn.
In this episode of the Ben Franklin’s World podcast, we explore the New York Campaign of 1776 and how it led to New York becoming an occupied city with Sarah Henry, Chief Curator Emerita at the Museum of the City of New York, and historian Blake McGready of the City University of New York (CUNY).
You can listen to the podcast here.
Ben Franklin’s World is an award-winning podcast. It’s for people who love history and for those who want to know more about the historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our world. Each episode features an interview with a historian who shares their unique insights into our early American past. It is a production of Clio Digital Media.
Read More About the Occupation of New York City
Illustration: “L’entrée triumphale de troupes royales a Nouvelle Yorck” by Franz Xaver Habermann, 1776 (NYPL Digital Collections).
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