British colonization of the Americas 52507 223641569 2008-07-05T01:09:33Z Rmhermen 835 [[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 223249886 by [[Special:Contributions/69.235.211.136|69.235.211.136]] ([[User talk:69.235.211.136|talk]]) {{euromericas}}'''British colonization of the Americas''' (including colonization under the [[Kingdom of England]] before the 1707 [[Acts of Union 1707|Acts of Union]] created the [[Kingdom of Great Britain]]) began in the late 16th century, before reaching its peak after colonies were established throughout the [[Americas]], and a [[protectorate]] was established in [[Hawaii]]. The British were one of the most important colonizers of the Americas and their American empire came to rival the [[Spanish colonization of the Americas|Spanish American colonies]] in extent. This British conquest caused dramatic upheaval upon the indigenous civilizations in the Americas both directly through British military force and indirectly through cultural disruption and introduced European [[diseases]]. Though many of the indigenous societies had a developed warrior class, and long history of warfare, they were not able to withstand the technologically superior British force and eventually succumbed. Many of the conquered peoples vanished or were incorporated into the colonial system. After the [[American Revolutionary War|American War of Independence]], British territories in the Americas were granted more [[responsible government]] until they were prepared for [[independence]]. In this way, two countries in [[North America]], ten in the [[Caribbean]], and one in [[South America]] have received their independence from the [[United Kingdom]]. Today, the United Kingdom retains eight [[British overseas territories|overseas territories]] in the Americas, which it grants varying degrees of [[self-government]]. In addition, nine former British possessions in the Americas are [[Commonwealth Realm]]s, independent of, but in [[personal union]] with, the United Kingdom. [[Image:British in the Americas.PNG|thumb|Britain in the Americas]] Three types of [[colony|colonies]] existed in the [[British Empire]] during the height of its power. These were [[charter colony|charter colonies]], [[proprietary colony|proprietary colonies]] and [[royal colony|royal colonies]]. ==North America == {{main|Colonial history of the United States|History of Canada}} ===English colonies in North America=== [[Image:Gilbert plaque.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Plaque in St. John's, Newfoundland, commemorating Gilbert's founding of the British overseas Empire]] A number of English colonies were established under a system of independent [[Proprietary Governor]]s, who were appointed under mercantile [[charter]]s to English [[Joint stock company|joint stock companies]] to found and run settlements. England also took over the [[Dutch colonisation of the Americas|Dutch colony]] of [[New Netherland]] (including the [[New Amsterdam]] settlement) which was renamed the [[Province of New York]] in 1664. With New Netherland, the English also came to control the former [[New Sweden]] (in what is now [[Delaware]]), which the Dutch had conquered earlier. This later became part of [[Pennsylvania]] after it was established in 1680. ===Scottish colonies in North America=== {{main|Scottish colonization of the Americas}} There was also an early unsuccessful attempt by the [[Kingdom of Scotland]] to establish a colony at [[Darién scheme|Darién]], and the short-lived [[Scotland|Scottish]] colonisation of [[Nova Scotia]] ([[Latin]]: "New Scotland") from 1629 to 1632. Thousands of Scotsmen also participated in the English colonization even before the two countries were united in 1707. ===British colonies in North America=== The [[Kingdom of Great Britain]] acquired the [[French colonisation of the Americas|French colony]] of [[Acadia]] in 1713 and then [[Canada, New France|Canada]] and the [[Spanish colonisation of the Americas|Spanish colony]] of [[Florida]] in 1763. After being renamed the [[Province of Quebec]], the former French Canada was divided in two Provinces, the [[Canadas]], consisting of the old settled country of Lower Canada (today Quebec) and the newly settled Upper Canada (today Ontario). In the north, the [[Hudson's Bay Company]] actively [[fur trade|traded for fur]] with the [[Indigenous peoples of North America|indigenous peoples]], and had competed with French fur traders. The company came to control the entire drainage basin of [[Hudson Bay]] called [[Rupert's Land]]. The small parts of the Hudson Bay drainage which are south of the [[49th parallel]] went to the [[United States]] in in the [[Anglo-American Convention of 1818]]. [[Thirteen colonies|Thirteen of Great Britain's colonies]] rebelled, beginning in 1776, primarily over representation, local laws and tax issues, and established the [[United States|United States of America]]. Great Britain also colonised the [[History of the west coast of North America|west coast of North America]], indirectly via the [[Hudson's Bay Company]] licenses west of the [[Canadian Rockies|Rocky Mountains]], the [[Columbia District|Columbia]] and [[New Caledonia (Canada)|New Caledonia fur districts]], most of which were jointly claimed as the [[Oregon Country]] by the United States from [[Anglo-American Convention of 1818|1818]] until the 49th Parallel was established as the international boundary west of the Rockies by the [[Oregon Treaty]] of [[1846]]. The [[Colony of Vancouver Island|colonies of Vancouver Island]], founded in [[1849]], and the [[Colony of British Columbia]], founded in [[1858]], were combined in [[1866]] with the name [[United Colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia|Crown Colony of British Columbia]] until joining Confederation in [[1871]]. British Columbia also was expanded with the inclusion of the [[Stikine Territory]] in [[1863]], and upon joining Confederation with the addition of the [[Peace River Block]], formerly part of Rupert's Land. In 1867, the colonies of [[New Brunswick]], [[Nova Scotia]], and the [[Province of Canada]] (the southern portion of modern-day [[Ontario]] and [[Quebec]]) combined to form a self-governing [[dominion]], named [[Canada]], within the [[British Empire]]. Quebec (including what is now the southern portion of Ontario) and Nova Scotia (including what is now New Brunswick and [[Prince Edward Island]]) had been ceded to Britain by the French. The colonies of Prince Edward Island and British Columbia joined over the next six years, and [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]] joined in 1949. [[Rupert's Land]] and the [[North-Western Territory]] were ceded to Canada in 1870. This area now consists of the provinces of [[Manitoba]] (admitted after negotiation between Canada and a [[Métis people (Canada)|Métis]] provisional government in 1870), [[Saskatchewan]], and [[Alberta]] (both created in 1905), as well as the [[Northwest Territories]], the [[Yukon Territory]] (created 1898, following the start of the [[Klondike Gold Rush]]), and [[Nunavut]] (created in 1999). ====List of English/British colonies in North America==== [[Image:British colonies 1763-76 shepherd1923.PNG|thumb|300px|The British Colonies in North America, 1763-1775]] *[[Roanoke Colony]], founded 1586, abandoned the next year. Second attempt in 1587 disappeared (also called the Lost Colony). *[[Virginia Company]], chartered 1606 and became the [[Colony and Dominion of Virginia|Virginia Colony]] in 1624 **[[London Company]] ***[[Jamestown Settlement]], founded 1607. ***[[Bermuda]], these islands, located in the North Atlantic, were first settled in 1609 by the London Virginia Company; Administration passed to [[Somers Isles Company|The Somers Isles Company]], formed by the same shareholders, in 1615. Also known officially as The Somers Isles, they remain a British overseas territory. ***[[Henricus|Citie of Henricopolis]], founded in 1611 as an alternative to the swampy Jamestown site and was destroyed in the [[Indian massacre of 1622]]. **[[Plymouth Company]] ***[[Popham Colony]], founded 1607, abandoned 1608 *[[Society of Merchant Venturers]] ([[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]]) **[[Cuper's Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador|Cuper's Cove]], founded 1610, abandoned in the 1620s **[[Bristol's Hope, Newfoundland and Labrador|Bristol's Hope]], founded 1618, abandoned in the 1630s *[[London and Bristol Company]] ([[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]]) **[[Renews, Newfoundland and Labrador|Renews]], founded 1615, (abandoned in 1619<ref>[http://www.heritage.nf.ca/exploration/cambriol.html William Vaughan and New Cambriol: Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>) ***[[Jamestown Settlement]], founded 1607. *[[St. John's, Newfoundland]], chartered by Sir [[Humphrey Gilbert]] in 1583; seasonal settlements ca. 1520<ref name="Oxford History of the British Empire">Nicholas Canny, ''The Oxford History of the British Empire: Volume I: The Origins of Empire: British Overseas Enterprise to the Close of the Seventeenth Century '', 2001, ISBN 0-19-924676-9.</ref>; informal year-round settlers before 1620.<ref>The Early Settlement of St. John's, [http://www.heritage.nf.ca/exploration/early.html], 1998, Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage Web Site Project, Memorial University of Newfoundland, accessed August 27, 2006</ref><ref name="oldest city">[[Paul O'Neill (author)|Paul O'Neill]], ''The Oldest City: The Story of St. John's, Newfoundland'', 2003, ISBN 0-9730271-2-6.</ref> *[[Plymouth Council for New England]] **[[Plymouth Colony]], founded 1620, merged with [[Massachusetts]] Bay Colony in 1691 *[[Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador|Ferryland, Newfoundland]] granted to [[George Calvert]], 1st [[Lord Baltimore]] in 1620, first settlers in August 1621<ref>Colony of Avalon, [http://www.heritage.nf.ca/avalon/history/settlement.html], Colony of Avalon Foundation, Revised March 2002, accessed August 27, 2006</ref> *[[Province of Maine]], granted 1622, dissolved 1677 *[[South Falkland]], [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]], founded 1623 by [[Henry Cary, 1st Viscount Falkland]] *[[Province of New Hampshire]], later [[New Hampshire]] settled in 1623, see also [[New Hampshire Grants]] *[[Dorchester Company Colony]], (Dorchester Company planted an unsuccessful fishing colony on Cape Ann at modern [[Gloucester, Massachusetts]] in 1624) *[[Salem Colony]], later [[Salem, Massachusetts]], settled in 1628, merged with Massachusetts Bay Colony the next year *[[Massachusetts Bay Colony]], later part of Massachusetts, founded 1629 *[[New Scotland]], in present [[Nova Scotia]], 1629-1632 *[[Connecticut Colony]], later part of [[Connecticut]] founded 1633 *[[Province of Maryland]], later [[Maryland]], founded in 1634 *[[Province of New Albion|New Albion]], chartered in 1634, failed by 1649-50. Not to be confused with [[Nova Albion]] on the Pacific coast (see next section). *[[Rhode Island Colony|Rhode Island and Providence Plantations]], first settled in 1636 *[[New Haven Colony]], founded 1638 *[[Province of New York]], captured 1664 *[[Province of New Jersey]], captured in 1664 **divided into [[West Jersey]] and [[East Jersey]] after 1674, each held by its own company of [[Proprietor]]s. *[[Rupert's Land]], territory of the [[Hudson's Bay Company]], founded in 1670 *[[Province of Pennsylvania]], later [[Pennsylvania]], founded 1681 as an English colony, although first settled by Dutch and Swedes *[[Delaware Colony]], later [[Delaware]], separated from Pennsylvania in 1704 *[[Carolina Colony]] **[[North Carolina]], first settled at Roanoke in 1586, became separate colony in 1710 **[[Province of South Carolina]], first permanent settlement in 1670, became separate colony in 1710. *[[Province of Georgia]], later [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]; first settled in about 1670, formal colony in 1732 *[[Nova Scotia]], site of abortive Scottish colony in 1629; British colony 1713, but this did not permanently include [[Cape Breton Island]] until 1758. *[[Quebec]], which had been called ''Canada'' under French rule. Canada was by far the most settled portion of [[New France]]. Britain gained complete control of French Canada in 1759-1761, during the [[Seven Years' War]]; France ceded title with the [[Treaty of Paris (1763)|Treaty of Paris]] in 1763. *[[East Florida]] and [[West Florida]], acquired from Spain in 1763 in exchange for returning [[Cuba]], taken from Spain in 1761; the Floridas were recovered by Spain in 1783. *[[History of Prince Edward Island|Island of St. John]], separated from Nova Scotia 1769, renamed Prince Edward Island in 1798 *[[New Brunswick]], separated from Nova Scotia in 1784 *[[Ontario]], separated from Quebec in 1791 as [[Upper Canada]] *[[Colony of Vancouver Island]], Hudson's Bay Company [[Fort Victoria]] founded in 1843, royal charter for the Island as a colony in 1849, merged with the colony of h British Columbia in 1866. *[[Colony of the Queen Charlotte Islands]], founded in 1853, merged with the Colony of Vancouver Island <!--or the BC colony, I'm checking into this -->in 1863. *[[Colony of British Columbia]], aka the Mainland Colony or the Gold Colony, founded in 1858 from the [[New Caledonia (Canada)|New Caledonia]] fur district and the remnant of the [[Columbia District|Columbia fur district]] north of the 49th Parallel (see below). The colony was expanded with the addition of the [[Stikine Territory]] (aka Stickeen Territory) and the [[Colony of the Queen Charlotte Islands]] in 1863. *[[United Colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia]], formed in 1866 from a merger of the Vancouver Island and Mainland Colonies. The name British Columbia was chosen for the newly-merged colony despite the opposition from Vancouver Island colonists. ====Non-colonial British territories in North America==== *[[Columbia District]], the trading area of the Columbia Department of the Hudson's Bay Company from 1821 to the [[Oregon Treaty]] of [[1846]], by which most of the Columbia District was formally annexed to the United States. *[[New Caledonia (Canada)|New Caledonia]], first settled in 1805, administered by Hudson's Bay Company from 1821, until incorporated as the [[Colony of British Columbia]] in 1858. *[[Stikine Territory]], aka Stickeen Territory, founded in 1862 in response to the [[Stikine Gold Rush]] in order to prevent an American takeover. *[[North-Western Territory]], a Hudson's Bay Company trading area covering lands north and northwest of Rupert's Land. Its remnant was incorporated at the Yukon Territory after part of it was amalgamated to British Columbia. *([[Nova Albion]], never incorporated or settled, exact location unknown, claimed by Sir Francis Drake and one of the precedents for the British claims to the [[Pacific Northwest]] during the [[Oregon boundary dispute]]. ====British Caribbean colonies==== In order of settlement or founding: *[[Saint Kitts]] - The island was settled by Sir Thomas Warner in 1623. The following year the French also settled part of St Kitts. After they massacred the [[Caribs]], the British and French turned on each other and St Kitts changed hands between the two several times before the [[Treaty of Paris (1783)|1783 Treaty of Paris]] gave the island to Britain. It became independent as [[Saint Kitts and Nevis]] in 1983. *[[Barbados]] - The island was settled in 1625. It became independent in 1966. *[[Nevis]] - The island was permanently settled in 1628. It became independent as Saint Kitts and Nevis in 1983. *[[Providence Island]] - part of an archipelago off the coast of [[Nicaragua]], this island was settled in 1630 by [[England|English]] [[Puritan]]s. The colony was conquered by the [[Spain|Spanish]] and became extinct in 1641. The island today is [[Providencia Island]] which is administered by [[Colombia]]. Providence Island was a sister colony to the more well known [[Massachusetts Bay Colony]]. *[[Antigua]] - The island was settled in 1632. It became independent as [[Antigua and Barbuda]] in 1981 *[[Barbuda]] - The island was settled about 1632. It became independent as Antigua and Barbuda in 1981. *[[Montserrat]] - The island was settled in 1632. It was occupied by the French in 1664-68 and 1782-84. It remains a British territory. *[[Bahamas]] - The islands were settled from 1647. They became independent in 1971. *[[Anguilla]] - The island was settled in 1650. Its government was united with St. Christopher from 1882 until 1967, when it declared its separation. It was brought back under British administration in 1969. It remains a British territory. *[[Jamaica]] - The island was conquered from Spain in 1655. It became independent in 1962. *[[British Virgin Islands]] - The islands were settled from 1666. They remain a British territory. *[[Cayman Islands]] - The islands were acquired from Spain in 1670. It remains a British territory. *[[Turks and Caicos Islands]] - The islands were first permanently settled in the 1750s. They remain a British territory. *[[Dominica]] - The island was captured from the French in 1761. The French occupied it again from 1778 to 1783. Dominica became independent in 1978. *[[Trinidad and Tobago]] - The island of Tobago was captured in 1762. The island of Trinidad was captured from the Spanish in 1797. The two governments were joined in 1888. They became independent in 1962. *[[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]] - Saint Vincent was colonized in 1762. France captured it in 1779 but returned it to Britain in 1783. The islands were formerly part of the British colony of the [[British Windward Islands]] from 1871 to 1958. The nation gained full independence in 1979. *[[Grenada]] - The island was conquered from France in 1762. The French reoccupied it from 1779 to 1783. It became independent in 1974. *[[Saint Lucia]] - The island was captured from the French in 1778, but returned to them in 1783. In 1796 and in 1803 it was captured again, to be permanently annexed by Britain in 1814. St Lucia became independent in 1979. ====British Central and South American colonies==== *[[Belize]] - English adventurers starting in 1638, used Belize as a source for [[logwood]], a tree used to make a [[wool]] [[dye]]. The area was claimed by [[Spain]] but they had not settled it or been able to control the natives. The Spanish destroyed the British colony in 1717, 1730, 1754 and 1779. The Spanish attacked a final time in 1798, but were defeated. The colony was known as '[[British Honduras]]' until 1973, whereupon its name changed to 'Belize'. Although [[Guatemala]]n claims to Belize delayed independence, full independence was granted in 1981.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.belize-guatemala.gov.bz/belize_position.html |title=The Belize Position |accessdate=2006-09-12 |date= |year= |month= |publisher=Government of Belize }}</ref> *[[Mosquito Coast]] - This area was first settled in 1630. It was briefly assigned to [[Honduras]] in 1859 along with the [[Bay Islands]] north of the country, then ceded to [[Nicaragua]] in 1860 and the area was disputed until a treaty in 1965 divided the Mosquito coast for each country. {{Fact|date=April 2008}} *[[British Guiana]] - The English began colonies in the Guiana area in the early 17th century. In the [[Treaty of Breda]], the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] gained control of these colonies. Britain later controlled various colonies in the area. The [[Congress of Vienna (1815)]] awarded the settlements of [[Berbice]], [[Demerara]], and [[Essequibo]] in the Guiana region to Great Britain; they were united as [[British Guiana]] in 1831. It became independent as [[Guyana]] in 1966. *[[Falkland Islands]] - The first British base of 1765 was abandoned in 1776. The Islands have been under British control since the [[Re-establishment of British rule on the Falklands (1833)|Argentine administration was expelled]] in 1833, save for a brief Argentine occupation during the [[Falklands War]] in 1982. ==See also== *[[Atlantic world]] *[[British America]] *[[British North America]] *[[British West Indies]] *[[British Empire]] *[[Colonial history of the United States of America|Colonial history of the United States]] *[[Colonialism]] *[[Frontier]] *[[History of Canada]] *[[History of the British Empire]] *[[Imperialism]] *[[Kecoughtan, Virginia]], claims to be oldest continually occupied British settlement in the U.S. *[[Thirteen Colonies]] * [[quia emptores]] ==Footnotes== {{reflist}} ==External links== *The Modern History Sourcebook has the account of the [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1585haies-gilbert.html Gilbert's trip to North America] [[Category:Colonization of the Americas]] [[Category:British Empire|Americas, British colonization of]] [[da:Britiske kolonier i Nordamerika i 1700-tallet]] [[de:Britische Kolonisierung Amerikas]] [[es:Colonización británica de América]] [[fr:Colonisation britannique des Amériques]] [[lt:Anglijos kolonijos Amerikoje]] [[nl:Britse kolonisatie van Noord-Amerika]] [[no:Britisk kolonisering av Amerika]] [[pl:Brytyjska kolonizacja Ameryki Północnej]] [[sv:Den brittiska koloniseringen av Amerika]]