ABSTRACT
In testimony to its vitality, New York has had more names than any other city. Each name reminds us that the history of the city is multifaceted and ever changing. Over time, people have tried to understand New York by labeling it. However, they have never quite succeeded because the city is too complex to be encompassed by any single notion. That complexity was often translated into conflict. Friction between different groups with different interests competing for power, wealth, and status was inevitable in a dynamic city. Although conflict could create chaos and strain community, it also could illuminate important grievances and stimulate constructive change. These positive and negative tendencies emerged in the colonial and revolutionary eras when the roots of conflict were planted.
