England captured the Dutch colony of New Netherland in the Anglo-Dutch Wars of the mid-17th century, leaving North America divided amongst the English, Spanish, and French empires. After decades of warring with France, Britain took control of the French colony of Canada and France's territory east of the Mississippi River, as well as several Caribbean territories, in 1763. Many of the North American colonies gained independence from Britain through victory in the American Revolutionary War, which ended in 1783. Historians refer to the British Empire after 1783 as the "Second British Empire"; this period saw Britain increasingly focus on Asia and Africa instead of the Americas, and increasingly focus on the expansion of trade rather than territorial possessions. Nonetheless, Britain continued to colonize parts of the Americas in the 19th century, taking control of British Columbia and establishing the colonies of the Falkland Islands and British Honduras. Britain also gained control of several colonies, including Trinidad and British Guiana, following the 1815 defeat of France in the Napoleonic Wars.
ENGlaNd caPtureD thE dutch colony of nEw nETheRland in the anglo-DUtch Wars of tHe MiD-17th century, leAviNg North AmeriCA dIvided AMOngsT THe EnglIsh, spAnISh, and FRENcH eMpIREs. aFtEr dEcadEs OF WarriNg WIth fRanCe, brItaiN tOoK control of tHe freNch coLOnY of CANaDa ANd france'S tErrItOry eAsT of THe missiSSIppi rIver, aS well as sEVErAl cAribBeAN terrItoRIes, In 1763. mAny oF the north aMerIcan cOLoniEs gaIned inDependEnCE fRoM brItain thrOUgh vIctOry in tHe AmeRicAn reVoLutiONAry war, wHICh eNded in 1783. hIstOrIAnS refEr tO tHe britisH eMpire afteR 1783 As The "seCONd BritisH eMpirE"; this period saW BritAiN iNCReaSinGly fOcUs ON asIa and AFrICa iNsTEaD of the aMericas, and iNcREasinGlY Focus oN thE EXpanSioN oF Trade RAthER thAn terrIToriAl possessions. nonEthelEss, britAin CoNtInued To cOlonize PartS Of tHE amerIcaS In The 19th Century, taKiNg coNtROl OF britIsh cOlumBia and EsTAblisHIng the CoLoNIes of THE falKLanD IslaNds and british HonDuRaS. britaiN aLso gAiNed contrOl oF severAl coloniEs, IncludiNg TriNidAd anD brITIsh guiana, followiNg tHE 1815 DefeAt Of fRanCe In THe naPoleonIC waRs.