So, the XVI century. Columbus recently sailed to India. Henry VII decided to keep up, and sent John Cabot to Asia. There he stumbled upon the wonderful shores of Kamchatka, which later was called "Newfoundland." He returned and told how he lives there in the North of Asia. He sailed there again, but never returned. So far, the English have finished (I know, it doesn’t look like them).
They returned to North, as it turned out, America because of privateers. In the same 16th century, relations between England and Spain escalated due to church reformation. Well, as usual, they began to fight. And to fight against such a power as Spain, it would be nice to have a good fleet, good sailors. As early as the 1560s, the British issued privateer patents to various sailors who bravely and courageously engaged in robbery and the slave trade. But it is worth highlighting one specific: Gilbert Humphrey (patent issued in 1578). He dreamed of creating colonies in America. At first he wanted to go to the West Indies, but the expedition did not take place.
Then in 1583 he went to Newfoundland, which was proclaimed British. But he did not reach the house ... He died on the way back from America to England. His case was continued by his brother Walter Raleigh, who was granted his own patent in 1584. A year later, Raleigh founded the Roanoke colony on the coast of modern North Carolina, but the lack of experience and supplies, as well as, probably, the measures taken against the British by the Spaniards, led to the fact that the colony failed
Almost all the beginnings of England in America were spoiled by Spain ... Until 1588, when its fleet was destroyed by England.
But in 1603, King James I made peace with Spain on the Status Quo, due to some problems.
Now the British are completely focused on colonization.
As early as 1600, the East India Company was founded, which over the 17th century achieved great influence in India, and took away a number of Portuguese colonies.
As they say,
In 1605, King James I granted a patent to two companies for the development of American land. In 1607, the first permanent settlement, Jamestown, was founded.
The reaction of local residents to the colonists. 1607 year. Colors restored
In the 1620s, some islands in the Caribbean were colonized, and tobacco cultivation began in the colonies (this saved the colonies from ruining the North America because they didn’t find anything more useful than wood there, but sailed for resources)
Then the British authorities took control of the colonies, and ended the activities of one of those companies
In the same saturated 20s, the expansion of New England began.
However, the colonies were not only in England, but also in the Netherlands. On this basis, they had several wars, after which they held negotiations, and all the colonies of the Netherlands on the Continent were transferred to England in the 1660s. Including one town called New Amsterdam (the British will call it New York)
Worth mentioning is the problem of slavery. No, the problem is not the existence of slavery, but where to get them.
Initially, they were purchased from the Netherlands, but then the British founded their own colonies in western Africa, and switched to "self-sufficiency."
In the 1680s, colonization of modern Pennsylvania was begun.
In 1707, England and Scotland merged into the Kingdom of Great Britain.
Further there were endless wars of Great Britain with its main enemy - France.
The colonies were seriously affected only by the Seven Years' War of 1756-1763, after which Canada became British, and Louisiana was ceded to Spain.
Colonies of Great Britain by 1773
Well, then because of the economic consequences of the Seven Years War, the Americans decided to brew British tea at sea
