How Did The New York Harbor Affect The Economy

New York City, one of humanities’ proudest accomplishment, survived and prospered after its discovery by Giovanni da Verrazzano and Henry Hudson, thanks to its natural, pre-existing harbor. The New York Harbor was and is successful because of its geographical location. Having direct access to the ocean, as well as a river, created ease in setting up a port for incoming ships. The harbor also created one of the strongest economies in history. A key factor in the harbor’s prosperity was the oyster. This mollusk sustained the people in their daily lives by being both a consumable nutrition and a major business. This oyster trade was so successful that its impact in the world economy caused the economies of other countries to greatly suffer, forcing

While the new world economy was thriving because of a magnificent harbor, including the oyster trade, many Europeans faced great hardships as a result of it. “Crop Failure, resulted in the loss of jobs famine” and an intolerance of “[R] religious and political freedom” led the suffering to acknowledge that “New York City was a haven for all people from all religions and all nationalities” (“IMMIGRANTS IN 1900’S NEW YORK CITY – Why They Left Home’). With people becoming hopeless and desperate, they sought ways in which to come to the new world. The most common arrival for people with limited resources was to pay whatever they had left for a spot on a boat which would arrive in the new world through the New York Harbor. “Immigrants entering the United States who could not afford first or second-class passage came through the processing center at Ellis Island, New York” (Immigration in the early 1900s). These immigrants recognized the danger of leaving all they had known and all they had for a possibility of a new life in New York, but they had hope. They hoped for better lives, more opportunities for themselves, and that this land would be somewhere they could be proud to call home and bring up future generations. “[d] Drawn by the city’s new prosperity and by its age-old promise of economic opportunity, now burning brighter than it had in decades” (‘American Experience”). The welcoming by the harbor as these people arrived in New York, was the affirmation that they had so long hoped for during their journey. Here, they envisioned their new life among the city hustle. Within the harbor, the Iconic Statue of Liberty that so many had heard of welcomed these immigrants to their new home. After their encounter with Lady Liberty, the immigrants travel further in the harbor, arriving at Ellis Island for