Home > French colonization of the Americas
The French established colonies across the New World in the 17th century. They were developed to export sugar and furs among other products.
1 North America
Explorers and settlers from France settled in what is now Canada, the Mississippi Valley and along the Gulf coast in what is now Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana founding the cities of Quebec, Montreal, Detroit, Michigan, St. Louis, Missouri, Mobile, Alabama, Biloxi, Mississippi, and New Orleans, Louisiana.
The first French attempt at colonization was Fort Caroline in 1564. This colony was destroyed the next year by the Spanish from nearby Saint Augustine. The next attempt came in 1598Events January 7 Boris Godunov seizes the throne of Russia following the death of his brother-in-law, Tsar Feodor I April 13 Edict of Nantes Henry IV of France grants French Huguenots equal rights with Catholics. Considered the end of the French Wars of R on Sable IslandSable Island is situated 180 km southeast of Nova Scotia, Canada in the Atlantic Ocean. The island is a crescent-shaped sandbar emerging from the vast shoals and shallows which have caused over 300 recorded shipwrecks. Almost 2 km at its widest point, it, southeast of present Nova ScotiaNova Scotia ( In Detail) ( In Detail) Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit (One defends and the other conquers Capital Halifax Largest City Halifax Area Total % fresh water 12th largest(9th lgst prov. 55 284 kmē 3. 5% Population Total (2001) Density Ranked. This colony went unsupplied and the 12 survivors returned to France in 1605. The next and first successful colony was AcadiaThere is a also a U. national park called Acadia National Park . national flag of Acadia, adopted in 1884. Acadia (in French Acadie , named after the mythical Arcadia, was the name given by the French to a territory including today's Canadian Maritime pro founded in 1604Events January 14 Hampton Court conference with James I of England, the Anglican bishops and representatives of Puritans September 20 Capture of Ostend by Spanish forces under Ambrosio Spinola after a three year siege. November 1 At Whitehall Palace in Lo with the settlement of Saint Croix Island. Settlement of Acadia later centered around Port Royal, now Annapolis .
The French were very interested in the fur tradeFrom the earliest contacts by Europeans with native Americans trading was a major focus of activity especially in the case of the French, the British, the Hudson's Bay Company and the Dutch West India Company. It was often hard for Europeans to understand and purchased fur from and formed alliances with Native American tribes such as the Huron and Ottawa. They actively engaged in warfare with the traditional enemies of the Hurons and Ottawas, the Iroquois. French Jesuits also attempted to Christianize many native groups through the establishment of missions such as Sainte-Marie among the Hurons.
France once held vast possessions in North America including the Mississippi and St. Lawrence river valleys. Quebec was founded in 1608 and Montreal in 1642. New France had 2500 settlers by 1666. The first French attempt to colonize the Mississippi area was a failure. Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle left France in 1684 with 4 ships and 300 colonists to establish a colony at the mouth of the Mississippi River. The expedition was plagued by pirates, hostile Indians and poor navigation. They set up Fort Saint Louis , near Victoria, Texas. The colony lasted only until 1688 when local Indians massacred the 20 remaining adults and took 5 children as captives. The colony of Louisiana was founded in 1699. France soon came into conflict with Great Britain whose colonies bordered French colonies in several places. This led to the French and Indian Wars. As a result of the final war, all French territory on the North American continent was divided between the British and the Spanish. The sole exception was the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon off the Canadian coast, retained as a fishing outpost. The French were able to briefly regain some of their possessions in North America from the Spanish during the Napoleonic Era. However, because France did not have the navy to resupply its North American holdings and because France did not want its possessions to fall into the hands of the British, Napoleon sold Louisiana to the United States, a sale referred to as the Louisiana Purchase. The only remaining French possession in North America is Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
