16th Century: Looking West

This section explores the how the English began to migrate to North America and the birth of the transatlantic slave trade. In the 16th century, Europe was a continent in turmoil, plagued by religious wars and intense rivalries between powerful states. For England, this created a sense of urgency to seek opportunities for wealth and expansion beyond its borders. As a result, the focus shifted towards establishing colonies in the newly discovered Americas, driven by the desire for riches, land, and trade.

Explorers such as Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh played key roles in expanding England’s influence in North America. However, it was another Elizabethan figure, John Hawkins, who notably profited from the transatlantic slave trade, capitalising on the vast sums of money being made through the capture and sale of enslaved Africans to work on plantations in South America and the Caribbean.

As England’s presence in the Americas grew, a wave of English migrants, driven by a variety of factors, began to seek new opportunities in the New World. Some were indentured servants, bound to work for a set number of years in exchange for passage across the Atlantic. Others, particularly those from poorer sections of English society, left to escape economic hardship at home.

The Elizabethan ‘Sea-Dogs’

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, England became a nation of shipbuilders, sailors, and explorers. The rapid development of England’s maritime capabilities played a crucial role in shaping the country's fortunes during this period. The ‘Sea-Dogs’, a group of adventurous captains and privateers, were at the forefront of England’s expansion into the Americas, seeking to build wealth and establish England as a dominant naval power.

• Queen Elizabeth I was deeply envious of Spain’s vast wealth, particularly its profits from South American colonies. In response, she laid the foundations for a powerful navy, encouraging her sailors to raid Spanish treasure ships returning to Spain with gold and silver from the Americas. Sir Francis Drake, one of England’s most famous privateers, was given royal permission to capture these riches, helping to fill England’s coffers.
• Sir John Hawkins, another prominent figure among the Sea-Dogs, recognised an opportunity to make huge profits by supplying enslaved Africans to the Spanish and Portuguese colonies in the Americas. These enslaved people were forced to work on the sugar and tobacco plantations that were becoming the backbone of the colonial economy. Hawkins was involved in several expeditions to capture Africans and sell them to the Spanish and Portuguese, making a significant profit in the process. Eventually, British investors began to establish their own sugar plantations on islands like Barbados, using African slave labour to produce sugar for export, which brought enormous wealth to Britain.
• Sir Walter Raleigh is perhaps best known for his explorations of North America. His expeditions paved the way for further English settlements and colonisation in the New World. Raleigh’s efforts in founding the colony of Virginia (named in honour of Queen Elizabeth, the ‘Virgin Queen’) had long-lasting effects, laying the groundwork for future English colonial ventures in North America. Raleigh’s exploration of the region also opened new trade opportunities, particularly in furs, and contributed to the expansion of profitable plantations, which would later become central to the British Empire.

The Role of Migrants and Indentured Servants

As England’s influence in the Americas grew, so did the movement of people across the Atlantic. Many of these migrants were indentured servants, individuals who agreed to work for a set period, usually between four and seven years, in exchange for their passage to the Americas. Once their period of service ended, they were often given land or tools to start their own farms. Indentured servitude became a critical part of the labour force in the early English colonies, particularly in the southern parts of North America, where large-scale plantations began to emerge.

At the same time, economic hardship and the lack of opportunities in England pushed many to emigrate to the Americas. For many, the promise of land and the chance to make a new life in the New World was too great to resist. However, the reality of life in the colonies was often harsh, with settlers facing disease, food shortages, and conflicts with Indigenous peoples.

The Growth of the Slave Trade and its Economic Impact

One of the darkest aspects of England’s colonial ventures in the 16th century was its involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. The demand for enslaved labour in the Americas, particularly in the Spanish and Portuguese sugar and tobacco plantations, was enormous. As the English established their own colonies, the demand for enslaved Africans increased, and British merchants and privateers, such as Hawkins, profited immensely from capturing and selling enslaved people.

This trade was not only a major source of wealth for those involved, but it also laid the foundations for the later development of a vast, global slave economy. By the mid-17th century, the British Empire had become one of the leading nations in the transatlantic slave trade, sending millions of Africans to the Americas to work on plantations, mines, and in various industries. The legacy of this trade would have lasting consequences, not only for the enslaved people and their descendants but also for the societies that profited from their exploitation.

Conclusion

The 16th century was a period of significant expansion for England, driven by the ambition of explorers, privateers, and merchants seeking to capitalise on the wealth and opportunities offered by the Americas. Figures like Sir Francis Drake, Sir John Hawkins, and Sir Walter Raleigh played vital roles in establishing England’s presence in the New World, with many of their actions contributing to the formation of the British Empire. The establishment of plantations in the Caribbean and North America, powered by enslaved African labour, brought immense wealth to Britain but also set the stage for centuries of exploitation and suffering. The legacy of these early ventures, particularly the transatlantic slave trade, would continue to shape the history of both England and the Americas for generations to come.