Colonial Canada and Louisiana

1. The French in Nort h America
By: Patrick Spohr
For: History of the Americas 140

2. American Colonies 5 – Canada and
I roquoia
● Unlike the English and
Spanish, who destroyed early
French attempts to colonize
the St. Lawrence river, France
did not attempt to permanently
settle in North America until the
17th
century, which put the
French at a disadvantage.

3. American Colonies 5 – Canada and
I roquoia
● Due to low French
interest in colonizing
North America, the only
French presence from
1500-1600 were fishing
and fur trading posts.
French traders also ran
temporary trading posts
during the summer
seasons.

4. American Colonies 5 – Canada and
I roquoia
● With a lack of government
presence or backing in
North America, French
traders were forced to work
more closely, and bow to
Indian demands more
readily, than there European
rivals. Allying with the
Montagnais, Algonkin, and
Huron meant that the
traders also needed to go to
war with the Five Nation
Iroquois.

5. American Colonies 5 – Canada and
I roquoia
• The rising trade between the French and the various Northern
tribes also assisted the Jesuits.
• Earlier attempts by the Recollet order failed partially because
the Indians had more leverage in their trade relationship.
• The Jesuits, unlike other European religious orders, were
more willing to learn Indian languages and cultures, and the
Jesuit desire for martyrdom made them more respectable in
the eyes of the Native tribes.
• Native tribes, like the Huron, became more reliant on
European goods as time went on, meaning the Jesuits were
able to become more aggressive in their tactics and requests
of their Native converts.

6. American Colonies 16 – French America
● In 1627, the outpost of
Quebec , belonging to the
Company of New France,
was destroyed by three
English privateers. The
destruction and the
eventual peace treaty
taught the French
monarchy a valuable
lesson: colonization was
necessary to slow the
Westward progression of
the English colonists.

7. American Colonies 16 – French America
● Opportunities in Canada far exceeded
those of France; 80% of colonists
were habitants with at least 100 acres
of land.
● Canadians experienced better living
conditions during the winter than their
French counterparts, with more
firewood and warmer homes.
● Colonists diets had greater amounts
of meat and white bread. Also, more
colonists were able to obtain horses, a
rarity for peasants France.

8. American Colonies 16 – French America
Unlike the English colonists,
the French were able to
transplant European
aristocracy to North
America. By eliminating
assemblies and replacing
them with councils run by
seigneurs, nobles were
awarded power and
continued the monarchical
history of France, instead of
replacing it with
republicanism.

9. American Colonies 16 – French America
Working their way down from French Canada via the Mississippi River, the
Sieur de La Salle and company explored what would become Louisiana.
Like French Canada, Louisiana was yet another attempt by the French to
contain the English colonies.
Instead of utilizing the mission structure of the Spanish, the French opted to
use forts to connect the Gulf of Mexico to the major towns around the Great
Lakes.
The French settlers, like those a century earlier, developed a trade
partnership with nearby tribes, particularly the Chickasaw.
The Company of the Indies exported thousands of European immigrants and
African slaves, most of whom died due to disease and famine.
The Louisiana environment, much like the one experienced by English
settlers to the Chesapeake, was humid and swampy; a much more dangerous
environ than the far healthier French Canada.

10. American Colonies 16 – French America
With a larger, more secure
population, the Louisiana
colonists changed their
approach to Native tribes,
bringing them into line with
the Spanish and English.
Besides enslaving rebellious
Natives, the French also
used class and racial
distinctions to pit poor
French, Natives, and African
slaves against one another.