* England was not a major maritime power in the 15th and 16th centuries. The English navy was small and weak, and the English were not experienced in long-distance sea voyages.
* England was embroiled in a series of wars with France, Spain, and other European powers. These wars drained England's resources and made it difficult to focus on colonization.
* England was a Protestant country, while most of the Americas were Catholic. This religious difference made it difficult for England to establish colonies in the Americas without provoking conflict with the Spanish and Portuguese, who controlled most of the Americas at the time.
* England did not have a strong tradition of overseas exploration and colonization. The English were more interested in trade than in colonization, and they were content to let other European powers take the lead in exploring the New World.
However, in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, a number of factors led England to become more interested in colonization.
* The Protestant Reformation led to a decline in the power of the Catholic Church in England. This made it easier for English Protestants to establish colonies in the Americas without fear of persecution.
* The defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 gave England a major boost in naval power. This allowed the English to challenge the Spanish and Portuguese for control of the Americas.
* The growth of English trade and commerce created a demand for new markets and resources. The English saw the Americas as a potential source of these markets and resources.
As a result of these factors, England began to establish a number of colonies in the Americas in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. These colonies included Jamestown (1607), Plymouth (1620), and Massachusetts Bay (1630). These colonies would eventually become the United States of America.