Books with title English Colonies in America

Seeking to compete with its rivals Spain and France for a presence in North America, England established its first settlement in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607. England wanted permanent colonies for long-term wealth, as well as a place to send people who disagreed with the kings religion and politics. Englands 13 North American colonies were established over a period of 126 years. Though all were clustered along the Atlantic coast, they supported different types of lifestyles based on factors such as geography and religion. Though different, the colonies eventually united in their anger toward repressive English rule, igniting the revolution that led to the formation of the United States of America.

The Spanish presence in the New World began in 1492, with Christopher Columbus’ historic voyage. Lured by stories of gold and riches, Spanish conquistadors battled native peoples to claim vast amounts of land in the Americas. During the 16th century, the Spanish established many cities and founded missions to convert the native population to Spanish religious beliefs and cultural practices. But by the turn of the 19th century, Spanish control of its colonies was waning, and the independence movement that was spreading across the Americas took hold. Spain’s North American colonies eventually became part of the United States or Mexico.

The Dutch colony of New Netherland was established in the early 1600s to develop the fur trade along North Americas Atlantic coast. New Netherland was composed of parts of what is now Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, and was settled by a diverse group of immigrants from all across Europe. The settlers shared the region with several Native American tribes, with whom they traded and sometimes fought. New Amsterdam, located on Manhattan Island, was the largest settlement in the colony. When it fell to the English in 1664, New Netherland became the English colony of New York.

New France was the French colonial empire in North America. Its first colony, Quebec, was established in 1608 to develop the fur trade along North America’s Atlantic coast. Within 150 years, France had claimed the area from the Gulf of St. Lawrence in the East, westward to the Great Lakes, and south to the Gulf of Mexico. The French colonists continually struggled against both Native Americans and the more numerous English colonists to maintain their foothold in the New World. After losing to the English in the French and Indian War (1754–1763), the French gave up their land in North America, and New France was no more.