British Colonial Period

Definition

The British Colonial Period refers to the time period when the American colonies were under the control and rule of Great Britain, lasting from the early 1600s until the American Revolution in 1776. During this period, the British government established colonies in North America and implemented various policies that shaped colonial life.

Related terms

Jamestown: The first successful English settlement in North America established in 1607.

Mercantilism: An economic system where colonies were expected to provide raw materials to their mother country while buying manufactured goods solely from them.

Navigation Acts: Laws passed by England during its colonial era to regulate trade within its empire and between its colonies and foreign nations.