2.2Rival empires

Spain built the first and largest American empire, conquering the Aztec and Inca states and extracting silver that flowed across the globe. France established a fur-trading network along the St. Lawrence and Mississippi, generally seeking alliances with Native nations rather than large settlements. The Dutch planted New Netherland on the Hudson, a commercial hub of striking diversity.

England came later but settled densely. Its colonies drew families, not just soldiers and traders, and grew a large European population along the coast. These empires competed for land, trade, and souls, and their rivalries repeatedly drew Native nations and, eventually, colonists into war.