Final answer:
New York was first settled by refugees from France, Holland, and other European countries. The Dutch initially settled the region, followed by Swedes and finally the English. The colony grew slowly due to various factors like religious toleration and government issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
New York was first settled by refugees from France, Holland, and other European countries. The Dutch initially settled the region, followed by Swedes and finally the English. The Dutch colony of New Netherlands, which later became New York, drew a diverse group of settlers due to its religious toleration. Free artisans and farmers from Belgium, France, Scandinavia, and Germany settled in the region. Additionally, dissident Puritans from New England migrated to Long Island, and African slaves were imported to work on the wharves and ships. However, the colony grew slowly and lagged behind the English colonies, partly because people in the Netherlands had few reasons to emigrate and partly due to the arbitrary government set up by the Dutch West India Company.