The British Empire began in the early seventeenth century, through the establishment of the colony of Jamestown in 1607, in Virginia by England, which was the origin of the United States.
The colonies of the Caribbean were the most important and lucrative colonies for England. The American colonies produced tobacco, cotton, and rice, in addition to naval material and animal skins.
The indigenous populations suffered wars, genocide, repression, diseases and poor diet, as a consequence was reduced in size by around 60-70% in a century.