Final answer:
Spain, France, and England were the three main European colonizers of North America, with each influencing different regions such as the Southwest, Canada, and the East Coast, respectively. Their legacy is evident in the cultural and legal systems that exist today. Other countries, like Germany, did not engage in colonization of North America due to factors such as internal political focus and competition barrier.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three main European colonizers of what became the United States and Canada were Spain, France, and England. Spain was influential in Mexico and the southwest. France claimed Canada (New France) and was present in areas including what is now Maine, Newfoundland, and Louisiana. England established settlements along the east coast and was especially focused on the prosperous sugar economy of the Caribbean.
Each European power left long-term impacts on North America, from cultural influences to economic systems such as the fur trade, and agricultural practices. Countries such as Germany did not colonize North America which can be attributed to a variety of factors including political focus on European matters, later national unification, and competition with established powers.
In the United States and Canada, the legacy of these colonizers persists with linguistic, cultural, and legal systems reflecting the influence of these European powers. For example, Spanish influence is evident in the Southwest, French influence in Louisiana and parts of Canada, and English influence in the broader United States and Canada.