Which is a reason for French exploration and colonization in North America? A. They wanted to find a northwest sea passage to get to Asia. B. They wanted to enslave the Native Americans and bring them back to France for labor. C. French Catholics came to escape religious persecution. D. French cattle ranchers wanted more land.

A reason for French exploration and colonization in North America is that A) They wanted to find a northwest sea passage to get to Asia. This can be seen with Jacques Cartier who claimed Canada for France and was the first European to describe and map the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the shores of the Saint Lawrence River. He made a voyage to the New World in hopes of discovering islands where big quantities of gold were supposed to be located.