Question

Which of these describes the primary reason for French colonization?
1. To convert American Indians in the Southwest to Catholicism
2. To cultivate cash crops in the Chesapeake Bay area
3. To extract precious metals from mines in present-day Mexico
4. To profit from fur trading in the Great Lakes region

Answer 1

The primary reason for French colonization is best described by option 4: **To profit from fur trading in the Great Lakes region**. The French focused on establishing trade relationships with Native Americans and capitalizing on the lucrative fur trade, particularly in beaver pelts, which were in high demand in Europe.