Final answer:
French settlement in North America, centered on the fur trade, was characterized by cooperation with Native Americans, integration into native cultures, and less aggressive missionary activity through cultural accommodation, differing significantly from Spanish colonial methods. Hence, the correct answer is option (A).
Step-by-step explanation:
The way French settlement in North America differed from that of the Spanish can mainly be understood through the lens of commerce and cultural relations. The French focus in North America, especially in areas like Canada, was primarily on the fur trade. Unlike the Spanish who were often seen as a direct threat to the Native American way of life through their efforts to forcibly convert Indigenous peoples and exploit labor for large-scale agriculture and mining, the French adopted a more cooperative approach.
French traders and colonists built alliances with Native American tribes, reliant on their support for survival and success in the fur trade. The French were more inclined to integrate themselves into native cultures and respect native customs, which included marrying Native American women and creating a multicultural society.
Additionally, Jesuit missionaries from France, especially the Society of Jesus, tried to convert Native Americans to Christianity, but they utilized cultural accommodation, aiming not to disrupt the entire native way of life, just to encourage religious conversion.