The Spanish settled in the Americas, primarily in areas that are now Mexico and South America, and found economic success through their conquest and colonization efforts, which included the extraction of gold and silver, as well as the establishment of plantations. The French settled in areas of North America, particularly along the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes, and found economic success through fur trading, establishing strong relationships with Native American tribes, and engaging in the export of fish and lumber. The English settled along the eastern coast of North America, in colonies that would become the United States, and found economic success through agriculture, particularly the cultivation of tobacco and other cash crops, as well as trade and commerce.
Some of the defining factors of each country are their distinct approaches to indigenous relations, with the Spanish often seeking to conquer and convert; the French promoting alliances and trade; and the English focusing on land settlement and agricultural development. Additionally, their differing economic activities shaped their colonial strategies: the Spanish concentrated on resource extraction, the French on trade networks, and the English on farming and settlement. Lastly, their respective government structures influenced how they governed their colonies, with the Spanish implementing a rigid colonial administration, the French often allowing local governance, and the English establishing varied degrees of self-governance among their colonies.
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