The term refers to the period of European colonization in America, from the early 1600s until the late 1700s, marked by the establishment of colonies and their development under British rule.
Related terms
Revolutionary War: The war fought between Great Britain and its thirteen American colonies from 1775 to 1783, resulting in the colonies gaining independence and becoming a new nation.
Pilgrims: A group of English settlers who arrived at Plymouth in 1620 seeking religious freedom, often seen as one of the earliest groups to establish permanent settlements in North America.
Mercantilism: An economic theory during colonial times that emphasized accumulating wealth through trade and maintaining strict control over colonial economies for the benefit of the mother country.