Final answer:
English colonists in North America in the 1600s and 1700s primarily sought opportunities to improve their living conditions (option d) through economic growth and participation in the consumer revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
English colonists in North America in the 1600s and 1700s most typically sought opportunities to improve their living conditions. Migrants to the British North American colonies aimed to enhance their economic position and ultimately aimed to participate in the consumer revolution that was happening in Europe. They desired consumer goods and a better standard of living, which was often more attainable in the New World than in England. The colonists farmed because it was profitable under the mercantilist system, which linked the economic prosperity of the colonies with that of the mother country, Britain. This system allowed colonists to earn their keep, own land, and practice their faith openly. Over time, as the colonies matured economically and socially, political independence became a more central issue, leading to the revolutionary path towards independence from England.