French Empire: 10. North America
Abstract The French colonial presence in North America spanned intermittently from 1541 to 1803. At its territorial height before the Treaty of Utrecht (1713), French hegemony extended from Newfoundland to the Rockies and from Hudson Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. In all, France claimed over half the co...
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| Format: | Other/Unknown Material |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2016
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| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781118455074.wbeoe279 http://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2F9781118455074.wbeoe279 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/9781118455074.wbeoe279 |
| Summary: | Abstract The French colonial presence in North America spanned intermittently from 1541 to 1803. At its territorial height before the Treaty of Utrecht (1713), French hegemony extended from Newfoundland to the Rockies and from Hudson Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. In all, France claimed over half the continent, including over 20 current US states. This vast domain had four areas: Acadia, Canada, the Upper Country, and Louisiana. The French called their North American holdings New France, an expression that betrayed their aspirations. The architects of French colonial expansion intended to create an improved society to serve the mother country. Contrary to expectations, French colonists adapted culturally and implemented policies dictated by local demands. The Seven Years War abruptly ended French claims in North America. By the Treaty of Paris in 1763, France kept only two tiny islands south of Newfoundland. In 1800, the French momentarily regained a foothold in North America, finally forfeiting their rights through the Louisiana Purchase. |
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