Spain and France ended up establishing colonies for the same reasons as England; primarily wealth and status. The main motivations of colonization were God (converting Native Americans to Christianity), gold (the biggest factor; wealth), and glory (bragging rights and status that comes from having much land and resources). France and Spain got colonies before England, with Spain seeing the America's potential first with Columbus's voyage (which they financed). Spain went to the Americas and got VERY wealthy, especially with gold, so France soon followed, then England. Once England joined, colonies were founded more often by Spain and France to limit English control of the Americas.