These European powers were responsible for the colonization of most of the Americas.
Spain was the first colonizer, and the one that enjoyed the most territory. The Spanish empire occupied areas from the south of South America all the way to the southern and southwestern regions of the United States, with some exceptions. England claimed Virginia and Massachusetts initially, but soon took over all the areas along the Atlantic coast in what is now the United State. This was the territory from Maine to Georgia, and as far into the interior as the Mississippi River. The French established trading posts in Newfoundland, the St. Lawrence valley, parts of Canada and the Mississippi River. It later occupied the area of Louisiana and Florida. Finally, the Dutch established some colonies in Brazil as well as New Netherland in North America. This included the American states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Connecticut, with small outposts in Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.
