The British Empire in the period of formation and the first crisis (1583 - 1783)

The first British Empire - the name, entrenched behind the largest colonial empire from 1583 - 1783 years. Her story began in the "golden age" of Queen Elizabeth I. England claimed her claims to America in the last third of the 15th century after the discovery of Newfoundland, but it took about a century before the day when the island off the eastern shores of North America was declared the first English colony. This significant event occurred in 1583 and was the beginning of the formation of the empire.

Spain, considered at that time as the largest colonial power, prevented the interests of the British Crown in seizing new territories. After the defeat of the "pirates Elizabeth" Spanish "Great and glorious armada" (1588), the main rival at sea stopped interfering with the British in the implementation of the aggressive plans. After the conclusion of the London agreement (1604), which completed military operations with Spain, Britain began to create its own overseas colonies. At the beginning of the XVII century, small settlements appeared in the West Indies and North America, and private companies were created for trade with Asia.

Jamestown, which dates back to 1607, became the first settlement of the English on the North American continent. After a while, the British Empire expanded its borders at the expense of the newly created colonies of Plymouth, Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Carolina.

In the second half of the XVII century, Britain managed to establish control over the province of New Amsterdam, formerly owned by the Netherlands. Later it was renamed to New York. In 1681 on the map of North America appeared the colony of Pennsylvania. Britain's colonies on the continent attracted a lot of English immigrants, who were comfortable with a moderate climate, and most importantly, large areas of land suitable for agriculture. It should be noted that until the second half of the eighteenth century, English colonization was mostly peaceful. The British Empire mastered the sparsely populated territories, on which all those who wished to settle had the space to arrange their lives.

The first British Empire was economically based on slavery. Until 1807, when the slave trade was abolished, Britain transported 3.5 million African slaves to America. The researchers claim that every seventh slave died during the transportation across the Atlantic. This circumstance was and remains a shameful page in the history of colonization.

In the XVII century, with the founding of London merchants of the East India Company began penetration of the British into India. By 1640 English trading stations were established in India, in Southeast Asia and the Far East. The East India Company in 1690 began to build Calcutta, and after a decade virtually all of Hindustan was under its control.

The British Empire experienced the first crisis when, during the War of Independence, it lost thirteen colonies in North America. However, the recognition of US independence did not diminish the imperial ambitions of the British. The British presence was consolidated in Canada, and somewhat later in Australia and New Zealand. This was followed by an era of new conquests and a gigantic expansion of territories dependent on Great Britain, and at the same time there was an increase in the anti-colonial movement. The collapse of the British Empire was predictable, and after the two world wars of the first half of the 20th century it was a fait accompli.