England's Colonization in North America.
England's colonization in North America first started in 1497. In 1497 John Cabot claimed the basis of England's land in North America. The land that was claimed could not be colonized until the early 1600's because of Spain's control of ocean travel and trade. Spain was the powerhouse on the 16th century. It wasn't until 1588 that England would start to consider colonization. Hostility existed between Spain and England over trade and colonization. On August 8th, 1588 English defeated Spain in the Spanish Armada. England was now able to think about colonization on the North American coastline. .
Two main companies would start the colonization to North America. These companies were the Plymouth Company and the London Company. The Plymouth Company was founded in 1606 by a group of puritanical people. The Plymouth companies head quarters were in Bristol, England. The Plymouth Company would need a charter to travel and colonize in North America. Charters were very hard to create and because of this the Plymouth Company purchased their charter from the Muscovey Company. The Muscovey had financed the trips of John Cabot. This charter gave the Plymouth Company legal right to colonize land from present day Connecticut to Maine.
Th Plymouth Companies colonization starts in 1606 when George Pophom makes and attempt to reach Maine but fails. In 1619, Edmund George successfully makes it to Maine and explores the coastline. The first major expedition for the Plymouth Company starts with a group of Pilgrims in 1620. The Pilgrims first tried to colonize in Holland although it didn't work out because they felt that too much English heritage was being lost. The Pilgrims went back to England and renewed their charted. They could now settle south of the Hudson River, which is present day Monmouth County. On November 16th, 1620 the Pilgrims landed on Cape Cod.
