Why was england's north american empire so much larger and wealthier than those of france and spain by 1700?

English colonists were large because they mainly comprised of farmers, tradesman and even criminals. These were people of lower classes that were more interested in expanding their welfare through economic activities such as agriculture. They also welcomed emigrants from other countries. The Spanish colonists on the other hand were largely conquistador’s soldiers and missionaries.

a phrase from a poem by ralph waldo emerson about the battle of lexington and concord. emerson's words read, “here once the embattled farmers stood / and fired the shot heard round the world.”