Jennifer Rodriguez

History MWF 12:00-12:50

The French
Where they mostly settled: They came to the New World to find a route to
the Pacific Ocean. The French failed in maintaining land in the Americas.

Quebec
o Belonged to the French from 1608-1663.
o Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec in 1608.
o Samuel also explored the Great Lakes.
St. Lawrence River
o A string of colonies, were built along this river.
French Florida
o The French established for only three years before the Spanish
took it. (1562-1565)
Louisiana
Newfoundland
Acadia
The French came to the New World (America) to find a
route to the Pacific Ocean.
The French failed in maintaining land in the Americas.

Their organized colonial governance:

The Quebec Act of 1774

o Known as the British North America (Quebec) Act 1774
Was an act of the Parliament of Great Britain, making
procedures (order and laws) of governance in the Province
of Quebec.
Provinces territory was expanded taking part of the
Indian Reserve.
The Oath of Allegiance removed the Protestant faith.
The act guaranteed the free practice of the catholic
faith.
The act restored the French civil law for matters like;
private law.
The act maintained the English common law for
matters like; public law.
The act restored the Catholic Churchs right to
impose tithes.

Their economic structure:

Fur
o Quebec trade with the French West Indies and with parts in
France.
Quebec traded lumber and fish for sugar, molasses and
coffee from the French West Indies.
Quebec traded furs for wine, textiles, cloth, guns, knives,
salt and other luxury goods from France.
The French used the Mississippi River for their trade
route.
The French had several settlements along the major
water routes.
On the verge of bankruptcy, the company, Company
of One Hundred Associates, lost its fur trade
monopoly in 1641 and was finally decimated by
1662.

Their relationship with the Native Americans:

The Native Americans were equal trading partners at one point in time.
o Intermarriages between the French and the Indians, gave rise to
the Metis people.
o Historian Francis Parkman stated Spanish civilization crushed
the Indian; English civilization scorned and neglected him French
civilization embraced and cherished him.

Their religious proselytizing efforts:

Quebec was a Catholic City
o Residents of other faiths were not allowed to practice their faith
in public only in private.
o The first missionaries for the Catholic Church arrived in 1615.
o The Catholic faith played a significant role in:
The settling and development of Quebec City.
The government and legislation.
The social lives of the residents.
o Female religious orders arrived in Quebec City by 1639, nuns.
o Residents followed the strict rules of the church such as:
Fasting
Holy days
Celebrating sacraments
Unlike the other colonial powers such as the English, Spanish and
Dutch, the French encouraged a peaceful relationship in New France
(Quebec) with the Indians. The French wanted to integrate the Indians
into their colonial society.

Under the guidance of Cardinal Richelieu a bishop for the Catholic

Church in New France, King Louis XIII issued the Ordonnance of 1627
by which the Indians, converted to Catholicism, were considered as
"natural Frenchmen":