Why Were The British Colonies In The 18th Century

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Even though Native Americans excited longer, the history of the United States usually begins with its discovery in 1492 and the first colonies which were founded by European settlers. The settlements all started in 1588 with Britain’s victory over the Spanish Armada which made England the world’s number one sea power. Due to that, they were able to acquire more colonies. This is what marked the beginning of the First British Empire, to which New England also belonged in the beginning. England’s reasons for building the First Empire were commercial and military interests. In the 17th century, British settlers and navigators colonized new territories and set up trading posts in these regions that were later known as the American colonies. As …show more content…

In the beginning, the settlers were dependent on goods and support from Europe, especially from Great Britain. That is why they weren’t able to stand up against the exploitation. But over time they prospered and became more economically independent. By the late 18th century, the British colonies of New England were among the first to demonstrate ambition of independence from the British Crown. The reasons, therefore, were that Britain made the majority of decisions and that they newly set heavy taxes on certain goods. One of the most notable demonstrations was the Boston Tea Party of 1773. The American Revolutionary War broke out shortly after in 1775 and the Declaration of Independence was signed and adopted by the Continental Congress and the so-called “Founding Fathers” on July 4, 1776. Nowadays, July 4 is a federal holiday which is celebrated with parades, barbecues, and nighttime firework shows. The first state belonging to New England that officially joined the Union was Connecticut on January 9,