Western European Colonization of the Americas

European Colonization

Colonial America

England

Colonization of the Americas

The British first began their attempts at colonizing the North American continent during the commencement of the seventeenth century. However, these attempts, made by sea-dogs such as Walter Raleigh, were sporadic and, most often, unsuccessful. In 1607, however, England's luck changed with the erection of the Jamestown settlement. This colony, located by the Chesapeake Bay, was the first successful English territory on American grounds and served as the starting point for British dominance of the Americas. As Jamestown blossomed from a backwards, primal territory to an established community, the British began to put more effort into their colonizing attempts. This effort proved worthwhile. By the turn of the seventeenth century, England had numerous colonies scattered across the eastern coast of the Atlantic coast. Ultimately, it would be the British who colonized the majority of the American continent.

British Colonies

• Colony of Virginia
• Province of Maryland
• Connecticut Colony
• Plymouth Colony
• Massachusetts Bay Colony
• Province of New Hampshire
• Colony of Rhode Island
• Delaware Colony
• Province of New Jersey
• Province of New York
• Province of Pennsylvania
• Province of Georgia
• Province of Carolina (North and South)

France

Colonization of the Americas

France colonized a very large land mass in America. They called their colony New France, and it covered a large area ranging from eastern Canada as well as area in the Appalachians. France also colonized land east of the Mississippi River, stretching from the Great Lakes down to the Gulf of Mexico. In New France they established trading outposts for the very profitable fur trade. Some of the trading outposts include Detroit, St. Louis, and New Orleans. Although with Colonies so close to British colonies, France was bound to get into conflict with Great Britain. The French and Indian Wars lasted seven years and France lost most of its colonial holdings to Great Britain as a result of the war, including all of Canada. When France sold the Remainder of New France to the United States in 1803, France no longer had Colonies in America.

Portugal

Colonization of the Americas

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Spain

Colonization of the Americas

Spain was one of the earliest European countries that attempted to colonize the Americas. The Catholic land began its Western conquests in the fifteenth century when they implemented their conquistador system. These conquistadors or Spanish mercenaries, such as Francisco Pizarro and Hernan Cortes, were the founders of the Spanish colonization effort. Their work in the Americas laid the foundation for Spanish occupation. The Spaniards took advantage of this opportunity and erected settlements throughout Florida and California. The most notable of the Floridian territories was undoubtedly St. Augustine, which is now touted as the oldest port city of continental America. With regards to California, it was Franciscan friars, such as Father Serra, who devoted themselves to the colonization of this area.

Spanish Territories

• St. Augustine, Florida
• San Diego (de Alcala), California