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Looking West

During the 16th and 17th centuries, England was involved in a number of wars and battles over trade and empire:

The Spanish wars

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, English seafarers were often involved in attacks on Spanish treasure ships and on trading settlements in the Americas. These were carried out with Queen Elizabeth I’s encouragement, in an attempt to weaken the power of Spain rather than capture the empire. England’s main concern was the threat of invasion by Spain, and after the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, England could feel secure. Gradually England started to look to expand her own empire in North America, leaving South America to Spain and Portugal.

The Dutch wars

During the 17th century the British were fighting with the Dutch in naval campaigns to challenge each other’s trade routes and colonial possessions. After the war of 1665-67, the colony of New Netherland was confirmed as English and was then renamed ‘New York’.

During the 18th century, there were a succession of wars between Britain and France, involving constant conflict over overseas territories, particularly in the Caribbean, India and North America. Islands in the Caribbean frequently changed hands after these wars and they were pawns in the imperial struggles.

The Seven Years' War

Key elements were:

• British maritime security: After the Battles of Lagos and Quiberon Bay in 1759, Britain had firmly defeated the French navy. Thanks to these victories, 1759 became known as the ‘wonderful year’. This gave the British confidence that they would not be invaded by the French, so they could focus on overseas ventures.
• Indian monopoly: During the Seven Years’ War, Robert Clive led Britain’s East India Company’s armed forces against the French and their native Indian allies. At the Battle of Plassey in 1757, Clive and the Company forces soundly defeated the Nawab of Bengal who was allied to the French. This led to the Company controlling all of Bengal and then expanding beyond that in future years.
• British Canada: The British had developed a colony in Canada, and the French had a rival neighbouring colony in Quebec. In 1759 General James Wolfe defeated the French at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham next to Quebec City. This battle confirmed British control of the region, and in the Treaty of Paris of 1763 the French withdrew and Quebec came under British control.