European Colonial Powers in the Americas Beyond England

Besides England (later Great Britain), these European nations established colonies in the Americas:

• Spain: Vast empire—Mexico, most of Central/South America, Caribbean, Florida, Southwest US
• France: New France (Quebec, Great Lakes, Mississippi Valley), Caribbean (Haiti, Guadeloupe, Martinique), Guiana
• Portugal: Brazil (largest single colony), minor Caribbean/Atlantic holdings
• Netherlands: New Netherland (New York area), Caribbean (Curaçao, Aruba, Suriname), Brazil (briefly)
• Denmark: Danish West Indies (now US Virgin Islands), Greenland
• Sweden: New Sweden (Delaware Valley, 1638-1655)
• Russia: Alaska (1740s-1867), Fort Ross (California, 1812-1842)

Other minor claimants included Scotland (Darien scheme, failed), Courland (Tobago, briefly), and the Knights of Malta (Caribbean, briefly).