The document discusses the settlement patterns and goals of the French, English, and Spanish in North America. The French established settlements along the Mississippi River in the late 17th century such as Kaskaskia to connect Canadian and northern territories to the Gulf of Mexico. They traded supplies via the Mississippi River. The Spanish colonization was less successful due to poor equipment and low immigration. They sought to establish Catholicism and control territory for defense. Both the French and Spanish pushed Catholicism on native populations, while the English were less consistent in establishing religion in their colonies.