The first time Great Britain came to North America was in the early 1400s, the King at this time sent numerous explorers to try to gain wealth. The King had heard of precious metals and other goods that Great Britain could have used. When John Cabot actually got there, he was discouraged, and the lack of materials and precious metals made it so he did not want to settle in North America, and neither did the King.
Later in the 1600s, the Separatists wanted religious freedom and thought the Church of England was too overbearing. If you did not agree with the Church of England during this time, you would be harmed or often even killed. When the Separatists came to North America on the Mayflower, they started creating colonies and slowly spread throughout the country.
