How did mercantilism affect European countries' pursuit of colonies in the Americas?

Mercantilism affected the European colonization of North America because European nations, including France, the Netherlands, Spain, and England, tried to claim as many natural resources as possible. In particular, the Spanish tried to accumulate as much gold as possible while enslaving the Native Americans they found.

Explanation:

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2686-2181 bce-- "egyptian civilization developed along the nile river in large part because the river’s annual flooding ensured reliable, rich soil for growing crops."

1069-664 bce-- "ancient egyptians developed wide-reaching trade networks along the nile, in the red sea, and in the near east."