What were some differences between the Spanish & French efforts to colonize the new world?
Spanish settlements were mostly religious in nature. After the failure of the explorers to find gold or silver in any quantity, it was difficult to find settlers. There were some small civilian towns, and military posts intended to prevent encroachment by Russia, France, and England. They inhibited economic development because they were a mercantile nation. They promoted only their own goods, restricted trade, banned manufacturing, suppressed local industry and handicrafts, blocked the growth of towns, and prevented civilians from selling to soldiers. The French colonies differed from the beginning by the very nature of the objective. The French came as explorers. They had no agenda in finding gold, they came to explore. The earliest explorers, actually, were trying to find a new way to the Orient. The colonies they developed sought to trade with France. They exported sugar and furs, among other things. The French were very interested in the fur trade and purchased fur from and formed
