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British Colonies

Definition

British colonies were territories that were under the control of Great Britain during colonial times. These colonies were established in various parts of the world where British settlers migrated and settled.

Analogy

Imagine you have a group project for history class where you divide tasks among team members. In this scenario, think of each member's assigned task as one British colony. Each member has their own area of responsibility under the overall project (which represents Great Britain).

Related terms

Colonialism: Colonialism is when a powerful nation establishes settlements in other lands with the intention to exploit resources and exert political control over those territories.

Mercantilism: Mercantilism was an economic policy that aimed at increasing wealth through trade in order to benefit the mother country (in this case, Great Britain).

Triangular Trade: Triangular trade refers to three-way trade routes between Europe, Africa, and America during colonial times. It involved goods being exchanged between these regions, including enslaved Africans.

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Practice Questions (15)

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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.