New York a state in the Mid-Atlantic andNortheastern regions of the United States and isthe nation's third most populous. The state isbordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to thesouth, and Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermontto the east. The state has a maritime border withRhode Island east of Long Island, as well as aninternational border with the Canadian provincesof Quebec and Ontario to the north.New York is often referred to as New York State todistinguish it from New York City. New YorkCity, which is the largest city in the state and inthe United States, is known for its history as agateway for immigration to the United States andits status as afinancial, cultural, transportation, andmanufacturing center. Both state and city werenamed for the 17th century Duke of York, JamesStuart, future James II and VII of England andScotland.

New York, the "Empire State", has been at the center of American politics, finance, industry, transportation and culture since the Dutch Republic first founded New Netherland as a trading colony in the 17th century. That colony would be lost to the Kingdom of England and later, from Great Britain, would gain its independence in the American Revolution to eventually become part of the United States of America.

The Patriot organization, the Sons of Liberty, were active in New York in the 1760s and early 1770s following the Stamp Acts and continuing with the Intolerable Acts, and clashes with British troops peaked with the Battle of Golden Hill and the long-running skirmishes over Liberty poles. A Committee of Correspondence was created by Patriots by 1774 to coordinate with like-minded people in the Thirteen Colonies seeking to demand what they saw were their rights as

Correspondence led to the creation of the New York Provincial Congress, which effectively replaced the British ruling apparatus by 1775. The New York Provincial Congress sent delegates to the Second Continental Congress, where they voted for independence unanimously. The state of New York was created on July 9, 1776. Soon after, a permanent Committee for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies was formed which passed many laws allowing the prosecution of proven or suspected enemies of the rebellion. After their civil rights were revoked and their property confiscated (see Bill of attainder) many sought refuge in British-controlled areas. In 1777, the state required a stringent oath of allegiance from its citizens, those who refused were exiled to British-occupied New York City. The New York Provincial Congress was replaced with the state government with the adoption of the Constitution of New York, 1777.