eventually, the result was a series of wars that were fought both in europe and overseas, with britain emerging victorious. the british took the former land of french canada and india in the 18th century. they seized power in the indian ocean and defeated the dutch navy. by 1763, the british empire had become the second global empire after spain. however, in 1776, thirteen colonies of british america declared independence. with help from the french, dutch and spanish, they defeated britain in the american revolution.