Where did Spain, France, and Britain choose to settle when exploring the early America?

Spain had settled in South America because of their search for gold. France had settled in the some parts of North America. They were very interested in fur trapping and trade with the Native Americans. There was a large French population in Virginia. Britain had settled in South America, thinking that they could find gold, just like the Spanish had thought. However, they ended up setting a tobacco plantation in the South because of the nonexistence of gold.