During the 16th and 17th centuries, the English began exploring the coast of North America in search of a route to Asia. In 1497, John Cabot claimed Newfoundland for England, but it wasn't until the early 1600s that the English began establishing permanent settlements.
The first permanent English settlement in North America was Jamestown, Virginia, which was founded in 1607. The colonists were sent by the Virginia Company of London, which had received a royal charter from King James I of England in 1606. This charter gave the company the right to establish colonies in North America, as well as the exclusive rights to trade with the native people in the region.
Between 1606 and 1620, the English government issued a total of eight royal charters to different groups of colonists. These charters gave the colonists the legal authority to establish settlements, build trading posts, and govern themselves. The charters also gave the colonists certain rights and privileges, such as the right to freedom of religion and the right to own property.
The royal charters were an important part of the process of English colonization in North America. They gave the colonists the legal authority to establish permanent settlements, and they also provided them with certain rights and privileges. The royal charters helped to ensure that the English colonies were successful in establishing themselves in North America.