What were the chief similarities and differences among the development of English Spanish Dutch and French colonies in America?

Answer 1

Pre-19th century, the Spanish set out for conquering and ruling their colonies (mostly in the Americas) and converting its inhabitants to Catholicism. The reason was that they were out to harvest and cart away these countries' gold and silver reserves, which required a firm control over the land.

The English, French and Dutch mostly set out to establish solid footholds all over the globe from where they could control and hopefully even monopolize the trade in products these countries had to offer. Their direct power usually was limited to the harbor towns they occupied or set up: often they left the ruling of the countries to their local rulers and only stepped in if that ruler or his successor threatened to turn hostile to them. Also, they did not interfere much in local religions.

Post-19th century, the similarities became much greater. The drive to establish colonies that were completely under the control and rule of a 'mother' country' started in the late 19th century and this 'colonial period' lasted for the next 70 years. In that period all colonial policies of these countries looked the same, including the drive to convert the local population to the motherland's Christian religion.