How long was America a colony of the British empire?

The first great crisis of British rule in North America came in the 1770s. Throughout the 1760s and 1770s British settlers in the Thirteen Colonies were becoming increasingly discontented about aspects of British rule. Above all, they resented the taxes and duties that the British put on to the goods they traded. read more

Exactly how long each was a “colony” will thus vary. The legal status of them varied in foundation and over time. If you count Caribbean islands as “North America” some still are colonies or in legalspeak “British Overseas Territories”. read more

English and later British Central and South American colonies. Belize – from 1638 English adventurers used Belize as a source of logwood, a tree used to make a wool dye. The area was claimed by Spain but they had not settled it or been able to control the natives. The Spanish destroyed the British colony in 1717, 1730, 1754 and 1779. read more