Final answer:
The governor of New Amsterdam surrendered to the English when faced with under-provisioned defenses and a colonial population unwilling to risk their properties in a fight. Favorable terms of surrender allowed the Dutch to retain property rights, religious freedom, and legal customs. After the peace treaty of 1667, New Netherland officially became New York.
Step-by-step explanation:
The governor of New Amsterdam surrendered to the English due to several factors. Four English ships arrived on the shores of New Amsterdam in August 1664, commanded by Richard Nicolls, who offered the Dutch a chance to surrender. Initially, Peter Stuyvesant refused to surrender, but he was faced with two main issues: a lack of provisions at the Dutch fort and the unwillingness of the colonists to fight because they feared the destruction of their properties more than English rule. Additionally, they were not equipped with sufficient reinforcements or provisions to withstand a prolonged siege against the English. Under the terms of surrender, the Dutch settlers were able to retain rights to their property, religious freedom, and Dutch legal customs, which made the terms more acceptable.
The formal peace treaty in 1667, which concluded the Second Anglo-Dutch War, confirmed the transfer of power, and New Netherland officially became New York. However, during the Third Anglo-Dutch War between 1672 and 1674, the area briefly came under Dutch control again before finally being retained by England after peace was established.