If this is refering to the colonial period, then the answer is, The United Kingdom, The French Empire, The Dutch Empire, The Portuguese Empire and The Spanish Empire. The British founded colonies along the eastern sea-board in North America (the beginnings of the USA) and control of islands in the Caribbean. The French had claims to eastern Canada and Louisiana. The Dutch had control of some of the north of South America and a few islands in the Caribbean. The Portuguese had claims in South America (most famously Brazil). The Spanish had control over large swaths of land in both South America and Central America (New Spain), and Florida.