ASPECTS OF BRITISH HISTORY
In the late seventeenth century Britain had a smaller empire abroad than either Spain
or Holland. But it had greater variety. On the east coast of North America, Britain
controlled twelve colonies. Of far greater interest were the new possessions in the
West Indies, where sugar was grown. The growing sugar economy of the West Indies
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increased the demand for slaves. The sugar importers used their great influence to
make sure that the government did not stop slavery7.
British overseas trade expanded. British colonies provided a market for goods
from home. Tropical products from the colonies, such as cotton, sugar and tobacco,
were sold profitably in Europe after being processed in Britain. Britain gained the
monopoly of selling black slaves to Spanish colonies.
The British government had long been planning to take over as many as possible
of France’s trading posts abroad. War (the Seven Years’ War) broke out in 1756. It
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