Which European groups were the first to establish official settlements in the New World: Dutch, English, Spanish, or French?

The Spanish were the first Europeans to officially settle in the New World. After Christopher Columbus' initial voyage in 1492, which was sponsored by the Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, the Spanish began to establish permanent settlements in the Caribbean. The first successful Spanish settlement in the New World was Santo Domingo, founded in 1496 on the island of Hispaniola (which is now divided between the Dominican Republic and Haiti). This was followed by other settlements in the New World, including in Central and South America, such as the conquest and settlement of Mexico by Hernán Cortés in 1519-1521 and Peru by Francisco Pizarro in the 1530s.

The period of European exploration and colonization of the Americas is known as the Age of Discovery, which began in the late 15th century. Various European powers established colonies in the New World over the following centuries. While the Spanish were the first to settle, other countries followed:

1. The French: Explored and settled in parts of North America, with Quebec City founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain in what is now Canada. 2. The English: Jamestown, Virginia, was established in 1607, and it was the first permanent English settlement in North America. 3. The Dutch: Established the colony of New Netherland, with New Amsterdam as its capital, in what is now New York City, established in 1625.

Each of these European powers had different motivations and patterns of colonization. The Spanish mainly sought gold and silver, the French were heavily involved in the fur trade, the English were interested in establishing agricultural communities, and the Dutch engaged in trade and commerce. Their interactions with the indigenous populations varied from trade and cooperation to conflict and conquest, fundamentally altering the social, political, and environmental landscapes of the Americas.