The Spanish settled in the Americas, particularly in parts of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, and found economic success through the extraction of precious metals, such as gold and silver, as well as the establishment of plantations that relied heavily on enslaved labor. The French settled primarily in Canada and along the Mississippi River, finding economic success through fur trading and developing relationships with Native American tribes. The English settled along the Atlantic coastline, founding colonies that eventually prospered through agriculture, trade, and the establishment of a diverse economy, including tobacco cultivation in Virginia.
Some of the defining factors of each country are their approaches to colonization—Spain's conquest and assimilation, France's focus on trade and alliances, and England's establishment of permanent settlements and agricultural economies. Additionally, differing relationships with Native populations shaped their colonial strategies, as well as their varying degrees of religious motivations and governance structures. Economic models based on resource extraction, trade partnerships, and agricultural development further distinguished their colonial endeavors.
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