Why Did European explorers claim land in North America?

Answer 1

http://www.google.com/search?q=european+explorers&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGIE_en

You will find that European explorers claimed land all up and down the New World, in North, Central, and South America. If you are focusing on North America alone, then you'll need to focus pretty much on the explorers from northern Europe.