New England seceded from the United States of America during the secession war of 1806, caused by tariff conflicts and prompted by a conflict between Pennsylvania and Virginia. During the 19th century, New England developed as a powerful industrial and commercial nation, and by 1901 had the biggest commercial fleet in the World. Since 1850, New England entered the colonial race, and had colonies in Africa and South East Asia, as well as in the Caribbean, when in 1876 bought the Cruzan Islands from Denmark.