Colonies Thesis From 1450 to the late 1800’s, the Iberian countries, France, and Britain established colonies in the America’s. Politically, both the French/British North American colonies and the Iberian colonies of South America were ruled by strong European crowns. Economically, the Iberian colonies relied heavily on both American Indian and African slaves whereas the French/British colonies used more indentured servants compared to slaves. Socially, the Iberian colonies were characterized as having a more fluid social class in comparison to a more rigid social hierarchy which was established in the French/British colonies.