The French established fur trading posts in Canada to exploit the territory's trading potential. They allied with Algonquian tribes but faced threats from the Iroquois, who wanted to disrupt French trade. Despite struggles with disease, war, and exploitation that hurt colonial development, the French expanded their North American fur trade and established Louisiana, allying with various Indian tribes but struggling with economic and environmental challenges.
French in North America: Fur Trading, Alliances & Struggles
1. Theme 4: The French in North
America
Kendra Lacasella
History of the Americas- Online
November 11, 2011
2. American Colonies
Ch. 5: Canada and Iroquoia
• The French headed to • During this time the
Canada to establish French identified their
posts in their trading allies and enimie:
territory. – The French enemies
were the Iroquois, and
the Iroquois wanted to
interrupt their trade.
– Their allies were the
Algonoquian (Native
Northern Indians)
3. Canada and Iroquoia
• The French focused their • The Iroquois sought their
fur trading efforts around own weapons by
and on the Gulf of St. waylaying and plundering
Lawrence where they Huron and Montagnais
established a colony. canoes.
• The French became
friends with and wanted
to turn several Indian
tribes such as the Huron
and Montagnais, against
the Iroquois
– Who were now at this
point our enemies.
4. Canada and Iroquoia
• The Five Nation Iroquois • The Five Nations formed
were especially the Great League with
formidable enemies, their made them strong and
warriors were powerful great.
and could sustain long
distance and larger scale
raids against multiple
enemies at once.
– This was unfortunate for
the French because they
could not do this.
5. Canada and Iroquoias
• After all their hard work • The fur trading turned
and planning, the Europeans exploiting
colonies didn’t work as one another.
well as they thought
they would.
– They led to disease, war,
and trade that made the
way we go about doing
things very different.
6. Ch. 16: French America
• The French began to • The French had
rely on Indians for fear founded Louisiana in
of losing the colony, and the Lower Mississippi
they recruited more Valley.
inhabitants
– This lead to more
numbers and power
within the colony.
7. French America
• Although France had
plenty of religious
dissidents who were
eager to emigrate,
French policy didn’t let
them have their
settlement in New
France after 1632.
– In the 17th century New
France didn’t have much
to offer.
8. French America
• In Louisiana, French made • After many battles and
trade their priority. struggles between the
• But while this was good French and the Indians in
there were troubles in the 17th Century the
Louisiana. Choctaw alliance was
– Underdeveloped economy made.
– Floods and droughts
– Famines and Diseases
– This all made it hard for
crops to produce.
9. French America
• Indian trade was
subsidized because it
would ensure
containment of British
colonies.
• French America was
deemed a failure,
despite the many, many
alliances it had made.