The establishment of the first English colonies in America was driven by economic, political, and social factors. In the early 1600s, England sought new markets and resources to bolster its economy and rivalry with Spain. The Virginia Company established Jamestown in 1607, marking the first permanent English settlement. Additionally, religious dissenters, such as the Pilgrims and Puritans, fled England seeking freedom to practice their faith, leading to settlements like Plymouth in 1620. These colonies opened the door for increased migration, trade, and conflict with Indigenous peoples, shaping the future development and expansion of what would become the United States.