Explains a similarity between the earliest english and french voyages across the north atlantic in the late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries

Both wanted to establish colonies in the New World and gain wealth for their empires.  

Explanation:

Settlers crossed the North Atlantic for different reasons, and their empires took different approaches to their colonizing efforts.

France establishes colonies as trading posts. Settlers of France were fur traders and merchants. The fur traders and merchants engaged in bringing manufacturing goods for the Native Indian in exchange for fur pelts and other resources. The French government encouraged farming efforts.

English settlers after building colonies became involved in economic activities including farming, fishing, whaling, and natural resources (timber, iron ore) along with furs.