Final answer:
Water resources and ease of trade and travel by waterway were important to early American and U.S. colonial settlements.
Step-by-step explanation:
Locations near water were important to early American and U.S. colonial settlements for several reasons. First, trade and travel by waterway were easier and more efficient than overland alternatives. Waterways provided a faster and cheaper method of transportation for goods and people. Second, these locations had access to abundant resources, such as fish for food, water for irrigation, and lumber for building. Finally, rivers served as open mineral sources and could be utilized for oceanic navigation, enabling the exploration and expansion of colonial settlements.
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