Each European country had their own motive for exploring North America. These motives are important to know. Spain was looking for wealth and looking to spread Christianity. France also wanted to spread Christianity, but they were also looking for a water route through North America. England was looking to colonize North America to add to the British Empire. It is important to understand these motivations because it can show how America developed and why it developed the way it did. Spain came to North America looking for mineral wealth. They were unsuccessful which is why America developed into an agricultural land and did not develop into a land settled for its mineral wealth. France explored the St. Lawrence River. The exploration led to the French-claimed land called New France. The English wanted to colonize North America. They did just that. They created colonies all along the east coast of America. This week, it was important to learn about the motivations of each nation to explore North America. It shows how and why America developed the way it did. America did not grow into a land known for its mineral wealth. It was known for tobacco. If England had not come to colonize America, America might not have developed so quickly. Without motivation, the exploration would have been slower. America would have developed at a slower pace because there would not have been anything to drive the Europeans forward. These motivations helped shape America into what it is today. Today, America has become a populous country. It has religious freedom.