Question 10 • 670101 Oklahoma History & Government – MYERS, JOSHUA A
Answer:
The French mainly came to North America to trade, especially for furs. They often formed alliances with American Indian nations and exchanged European goods for furs, although trade also changed Native economies and ways of life. The Spanish focused more on claiming land, searching for gold, and converting American Indians to Christianity through missions. Spanish expeditions often used military force and showed little respect for Native cultures. Both groups affected American Indian communities, but French relations were generally more centered on trade, while Spanish relations were more centered on conquest and conversion.