Colonial Virginia

England?s Imperial Stirrings North America North America in 1600 was largely unclaimed, though the Spanish had much control in Central and South America. Spain had only set up Santa Fe, while France had founded Quebec and Britain had founded Jamestown. In the 1500s, Britain didn?t really colonize because of internal conflicts. King Henry VIII broke with the Roman Catholic Church in the 1530s and launched the English Protestant Reformation. After Elizabeth I became queen, Britain became basically Protestant, and a rivalry with Catholic Spain intensified. In Ireland, the Catholics sought Spain?s help in revolting against England, but the English crushed the uprising with brutal atrocity, and developed an attitude of sneering contempt for natives. Elizabeth Energizes England