Final answer:
The French and Dutch empires in North America were chiefly characterized by their focus on trade, especially the fur trade, involving collaborations with Native Americans, and unlike the Iberian empires, they maintained a lighter colonial footprint and had fewer settlers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The chief features of the French and Dutch empires in North America centered around trade and commerce, as they sought to establish their footholds in the region and contest Spanish dominance. While the French developed their fur trade around New France in Canada and later in Louisiana, they involved themselves with indigenous groups such as the Huron and Algonquin. The French colonies were relatively sparse in settlement as their main activities were fur trading and exploration through territories like the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River.
In contrast, the Dutch colonies, primarily located in what is now New York and New Jersey, were major players in the fur trade but also had Dutch farmers settling in the Hudson Valley and Long Island. The Dutch Republic was a commercial powerhouse during the 17th century, with its fleets and the Dutch East India Company (DEIC) playing a crucial role in global trade, including activities in Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
Both the French and Dutch empires’ emphasis on trade resulted in a model of colonial control distinct from the more populated Spanish territories, where settlement and direct governance were more pronounced. Unlike their Iberian counterparts, the French and Dutch established economic-based controls geared towards exploiting the lucrative fur trade and other commercial opportunities, with a heavier reliance on alliances with Native American tribes.