Spain was the first European power to establish a hold in the Americas, but the other European powers began to compete with Spain for the riches of the newly discovered Americas. The English, Dutch, and French were as determined in staking out their own claims in the New World as the Spanish were reluctant in sharing it. This friction led to a period of piracy in the Americas lasting until the early 18th century.
The Golden Age of piracy in the Americas began in the 1650’s and was centered in the Caribbean Sea. The loaded treasure fleets sailing to Europe were heavily guarded, but not enough to discourage characters such as William Kidd, Frederick Philipse, Edward Teach, Bartholomew Roberts or Oliver de Buze from the risk of swinging from the gallows if captured. Women also managed to command crews of buccaneers plundering the Spanish Main: Anne Bonny and Mary Read. These raiders were usually secretly sanctioned by legitimate heads of state in their attempts to undermine Spanish power.
Britain had been an early and staunch supporter of many buccaneers as a means of fighting a proxy war against Spain, but this changed once they established their own American colonies. It was in Britain’s best interest to play a leading role in the fight to eliminate piracy from the high seas. It was in their best interest to co-exist with their former enemy and promote trade between Africa, Europe, and the Americas.
