The defeat of the Spanish Armada was the start of a new era in history. Though Spain still had great power after the battle, England began to gain some momentum in their rush to power. The leadership that was seen during the battle led England to soon become a world power. In turn, this shift in momentum led to English dominance in the sea and colonization. The rise of the English soon saw the American colonies to emerge into the world stage. Without the victory over the Spanish Armada, England would probably never have became a world power, thus the Americans colonies would not have existed. The legacy of the Spanish Armada and England's leadership gave new light to the history not only of the European nations, but also of the American colonies.