Final answer:
European ambitions in the Americas after 1600 were driven by economic interests and the desire to dominate rival powers. The French focused on the fur trade, the Spanish on mining for commodities, the English on agriculture and trade, and the Dutch on precious metals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ambitions of European nations in the Americas after 1600 were driven by economic interests and the desire to dominate rival powers. The French sought to establish a fur trade in the North American frontier, while the Spanish primarily mined for commodities like gold. The English wanted to establish colonies based on agriculture and have a base for trade with the Spanish, Dutch, and French in the New World. The Dutch pursued valuable precious metals, while the English sought to profit from the slave trade.