Final answer:
French settlement in New France was largely driven by fur trade economics, the intent to convert indigenous peoples to Christianity, specifically through Jesuit missions, and the aim to explore new lands and find a route to the Pacific. Trade and religious conversion took precedence over settlement, leading to a cooperative relationship with Native Americans and limited French migration to the colony.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most complete explanation for why the French settled in New France is that they came to trap and trade fur, were looking for new land and a route to the Pacific, and sought to convert American Indians. The fur trade was indeed the primary economic driver, with French coureurs de bois and local indigenous peoples, like the Algonquian and Huron, playing central roles in the harvesting and trading of furs, particularly beaver pelts. French traders adhered to native customs, some even intermarrying and becoming part of the tribes, which fostered a cooperative environment.
Meanwhile, French missionaries, including Jesuits, sought to convert Native Americans to Christianity without forcing them to fully adopt European cultures, focusing specifically on the religious aspect. These economic and religious activities coincided with the French desire to find new lands and perhaps a western passage to the Pacific, although this goal was secondary to the immediate profits of the fur trade and the religious mission of the priests.
Despite these ambitions, French settlements in the Great Lakes, Ohio River Valley, and down the Mississippi River saw sparse migration due to a lack of push factors, as France had not run out of land for its citizens to farm and offered religious tolerance. The French focus on commerce and conversion dictated a different colonial strategy compared to other European powers, which resulted in a more inclusive relationship with the Native Americans and fewer French settlers making New France their permanent home.