Difference between revisions of "New Amsterdam"
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New Amsterdam is sometimes known as the "Untiring City" because it is perceived to be active at all hours. People from all over the world come to New Amsterdam for economic opportunity, culture and the cosmopolitan lifestyle. Although previously infamous for its crime, New Amsterdam is currently experiencing a record low rate of violent crime. | New Amsterdam is sometimes known as the "Untiring City" because it is perceived to be active at all hours. People from all over the world come to New Amsterdam for economic opportunity, culture and the cosmopolitan lifestyle. Although previously infamous for its crime, New Amsterdam is currently experiencing a record low rate of violent crime. | ||
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| + | ==History== | ||
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| + | New Amsterdam was founded by [[Wikipedia:Dutch|Dutch]] settlers who landed in 1624. The city was granted self-government in 1632. The Nabarrans took the city in 1642 but let it keep its original name. The Dutch briefly retook the city in 1646 before permanently and officially ceding it. | ||
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| + | During the [[Lanerian Revolutionary War]], the people of New Amsterdam were largely ambivalent. Throughout the war, the city remained under Nabarran control and it was the last naval port abandoned by the [[Nabarran Imperial Navy|Imperial Navy]] after the war was over. | ||
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| + | New Amsterdam was the seat of the Lanerian Government from 1782-1793 and the [[capital]] from 1793-1802. In 1832, the opening of a canal to the [[Lanerian Great Lakes]] allowed New Amsterdam to overtake the other major Lanerian cities and become economically dominant. However, this dominance did not come without a price. A notoriously corrupt political machine set itself up under the aegis of the [[Democratic Republican Party]], basing itself in [[Titulaer Hall]] and relying for support upon recent [[Irish]] immigrants. During this period, radical trade unions were brutally repressed, [[African-Lanerian]]s were kept out and organized crime was allowed to flourish by corrupt police. It wasn't until the election of [[William Lamb]] in 1939 on a reform ticket that the city was cleaned up. | ||
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| + | In subsequent decades, the growth of the suburbs led to a decline in the city's population. Rising crime rates, declining manufacturing and [[Wikipedia:White flight|white flight]] led to serious social problems. Racial tensions exploded in the late 1990s after a number of dramatic police shootings. All of these shootings involved African-Lanerian fatalities who turned out to have posed no real danger to police. In each case, police and city authorities held that police responded to the situation based on the knowledge they had and made the correct decision given the circumstances as they were aware of them. Many on the left and in the African-Lanerian community disagreed, feeling that the shootings were manifestations of police racism and never would have occurred in white neighborhoods. The resulting racial tensions erupted into mass protests in 1992, 1994 and 1996, as well as sustained criticism and distrust and occassional acts of violence. | ||
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| + | The city's problems improved dramatically after the election of [[Federalist Party|Federalist]] [[mayor]] [[Ian Barr]] in 2002. Since Barr's election, unemployment and crime has declined, wages have increased and racial tensions have eased. | ||
[[Category:Commonwealth of Peoples]] | [[Category:Commonwealth of Peoples]] | ||
[[Category:Vasconia]] | [[Category:Vasconia]] | ||
[[Category:Laneria]] | [[Category:Laneria]] | ||
Revision as of 02:49, 20 October 2006
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New Amsterdam is an international center of business, fashion, medicine, culture and entertainment with a large collection of galleries, theaters, musuems, media outlets, corporations and financial markets. The city is also the de facto capital of the Commonwealth of Peoples, serving as the headquarters of the Commonwealth Commission and the Commonwealth General Assembly.
New Amsterdam is sometimes known as the "Untiring City" because it is perceived to be active at all hours. People from all over the world come to New Amsterdam for economic opportunity, culture and the cosmopolitan lifestyle. Although previously infamous for its crime, New Amsterdam is currently experiencing a record low rate of violent crime.
History
New Amsterdam was founded by Dutch settlers who landed in 1624. The city was granted self-government in 1632. The Nabarrans took the city in 1642 but let it keep its original name. The Dutch briefly retook the city in 1646 before permanently and officially ceding it.
During the Lanerian Revolutionary War, the people of New Amsterdam were largely ambivalent. Throughout the war, the city remained under Nabarran control and it was the last naval port abandoned by the Imperial Navy after the war was over.
New Amsterdam was the seat of the Lanerian Government from 1782-1793 and the capital from 1793-1802. In 1832, the opening of a canal to the Lanerian Great Lakes allowed New Amsterdam to overtake the other major Lanerian cities and become economically dominant. However, this dominance did not come without a price. A notoriously corrupt political machine set itself up under the aegis of the Democratic Republican Party, basing itself in Titulaer Hall and relying for support upon recent Irish immigrants. During this period, radical trade unions were brutally repressed, African-Lanerians were kept out and organized crime was allowed to flourish by corrupt police. It wasn't until the election of William Lamb in 1939 on a reform ticket that the city was cleaned up.
In subsequent decades, the growth of the suburbs led to a decline in the city's population. Rising crime rates, declining manufacturing and white flight led to serious social problems. Racial tensions exploded in the late 1990s after a number of dramatic police shootings. All of these shootings involved African-Lanerian fatalities who turned out to have posed no real danger to police. In each case, police and city authorities held that police responded to the situation based on the knowledge they had and made the correct decision given the circumstances as they were aware of them. Many on the left and in the African-Lanerian community disagreed, feeling that the shootings were manifestations of police racism and never would have occurred in white neighborhoods. The resulting racial tensions erupted into mass protests in 1992, 1994 and 1996, as well as sustained criticism and distrust and occassional acts of violence.
The city's problems improved dramatically after the election of Federalist mayor Ian Barr in 2002. Since Barr's election, unemployment and crime has declined, wages have increased and racial tensions have eased.
