What role did the 13 colonies have in the British empire?

The New World had far more wood, fish, fowl, game, stone, clean water and other resources than the British did.

The motive for colonization of the Americas begin as a way to advance the wealth of the British through trade and trade taxes. Shortly after the New World was discovered, Europe broke apart into warring religious groups. For this reason, many of those who took the chance of migrating to the New World for settlement were those most in danger from religious persecution.