What is Great Fire of New York (1776)?
[[File: NYCGreatFire1776.jpg|thumb|200px|A 1776 map shows the part of Manhattan that was affected by the fire in red.]] The '''Great Fire of New York''' was a large [[fire]] in [[New York City]]. It burned through the night of September 21, 1776 on the west side of the former boundaries of New York City at the southern end of the island of [[Manhattan]]. It started when the [[British Army]] took control of the city during the [[American Revolutionary War]]. Many think that Washington's men, who had recently lost the [[Battle of Long Island]], [[Arson|started the fire]] to hamper British shipping of materials. Others believe that the British Army started the fire in an attempt to burn Whitehall. The fire destroyed 10 to 25% of the city. Some of the unburned parts of the city were [[Looting|ransacked]]. The lack of housing made difficulties for war [[refugee]]<nowiki/>s who went to the city to escape the Rebels elsewhere. {{multistub|US|history}} [[Category:1776 in New York City]] [[Category:American Revolutionary War]] [[Category:Fires in New York (state)]] [[Category:History of Manhattan]]