Final answer:
The British and Spanish settled in the Southeast of North America to exploit profitable trade routes and missions. The British developed an Indian slave trade, while the Spanish established missions for religious conversion and labor. Economic and religious motives drove both to significantly impact native cultures. Hence, the correct answer is option (A).
Step-by-step explanation:
The British and the Spanish wanted to settle in the Southeast area of North America primarily to establish profitable trade routes and expand their empires. The British were particularly focused on the Indian slave trade to support the labor demands of the Americas, including the Caribbean sugar islands, and to increase their influence and power in the region. The Spanish, on the other hand, established religious mission villages among the native peoples, such as the Guale, Timucua, and Apalachee Indians. These missions aimed to Christianize and acculturate the locals, but also served as a means of securing labor and food supplies and acted as a protective buffer between Spanish-controlled areas and British settlements.
Both these European powers were driven by a mix of economic and religious motives, and their expansion into the Southeast was part of a broader pattern of colonization efforts in the Americas. Their presence led to significant changes in the native cultures and social structures due to slavery, war, and diseases introduced by Europeans.