England was one of the first European nations to support westward exploration, hoping to find a direct route to China. In 1497, Henry VII backed John Cabot’s voyage, marking the beginning of England's transatlantic efforts. While fishing stations were set up in Newfoundland, permanent English colonies took root in the Thirteen Colonies. Meanwhile, the French settled in regions like Nova Scotia, Quebec, and PEI. Tensions between England and France over these territories grew, especially after the English entered the fur trade with the Hudson's Bay Company in the 1670s. This rivalry led to frequent clashes, culminating in England's victory at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759, securing control over much of North America.
