<P> From the 1650s, the New World increasingly became a battleground between the two powers . The Western Design of Oliver Cromwell intended to build up an increasing British presence in North America, beginning with the acquisition of Jamaica from the Spanish Empire in 1652 . The first British settlement on continental North America was founded in 1607, and by the 1730s these had grown into thirteen separate colonies . </P> <P> The French had settled the province of Canada to the North, and controlled Saint - Domingue in the Caribbean, the wealthiest colony in the world . Both countries, recognizing the potential of India, established trading posts there . Wars between the two states increasingly took place in these other continents, as well as Europe . </P> <P> The French and British fought each other and made treaties with Native American tribes to gain control of North America . Both nations coveted the Ohio Territory and in 1753 a British expedition there led by George Washington clashed with a French force . Shortly afterwards the French and Indian War broke out, initially taking place only in North America but in 1756 becoming part of the wider Seven Years' War in which Britain and France were part of opposing coalitions . </P> <P> The war has been called the first "world war", because fighting took place on several different continents . In 1759 the British enjoyed victories over the French in Europe, Canada and India, severely weakening the French position around the world . In 1762 the British captured the cities of Manila and Havana from Spain, France's strongest ally, which led ultimately to a peace settlement the following year that saw a large number of territories come under British control . </P>

A common issue in wars between britain and france in the 1700s was