"First British Empire"

By: Tom Blanton

1583–1783

• In 1578, Queen Elizabeth I granted a patent to Humphrey Gilbert for discovery and overseas exploration.

• In 1603 King James VI of Scotland controlled the English throne and in 1604 negotiated the Treaty of London, which ended hostilities with Spain.

• The British Empire began to take shape during the early 17th century, with the English settlements of North America and the Caribbean

• The establishment of the English East India Company helped the British Empire greatly to trade with Asia.

America

• England's first permanent settlement in the Americas was founded in 1607 in Jamestown.

• In 1624 the direct control of Jamestown was assumed by the crown, founding the colony of Virginia.

• In 1620, Plymouth was founded

as a haven for puritan religious

separatists, or Pilgrims.

• Many other British colonies were

formed in America in the 17th century

Beginning of Slavery

• In 1672 the Royal African Company received from King Charles a monopoly of the trade to supply slaves to the British colonies of the Caribbean

• Slavery became was the basis of the British Empire in the West Indies

• Until the abolition of the slave trade in 1807, Britain was responsible for the transportation of 3.5 million African slaves to the Americas