Among the most important riches, sought and persecuted by the British colonizers were 1) Gold: the first English settlement in Virginia, called Jamestown, in 1607, had the purpose of finding gold. 2) The tobacco, cultivated by the Americans, was soon an important commercial product that was appreciated by all Europeans. 3) The land, the new territory to be conquered, and the acquisition of new land was something desired by the colonizers. 4) The fur trade in Canadian territories, which the British (and French) had with the Indians, was another important resource. 5) The precious woods of the American trees were traded and exploited by the British since their arrival in North America.