French Colonization

To create wealth and power for the mother country (France) Based on Source 1 what was the sole purpose of the French for colonizing Louisiana? To create wealth and power for the mother country (France)

What role did the Mississippi River play in colonization? The Mississippi River became a highway for trade. It also provided higher ground {natural levees} which was good for settlement.

What did the French expect to find in Louisiana? The French expected to find gold, silver, and jewels, like that of Peru and Mexico.

It also enabled a space in which their settlements could prosper. Based on Source 2, what did the French find that could supply all of their wants? Louisiana possessed the soil that could produce any form of agriculture. It also enabled a space in which their settlements could prosper.

Based on Source 3, how could the acquisition of these lands in North America increase the dominance of the French Empire around the world?

The acquisition of these lands doubled the size of France and gave them majority control in North America. This would enabled France to use the wealth gained from trade to increase the dominance and power of its mother country.

Based on Source 4, explain two reasons why Iberville developed the fur trade with the Native Americans.

To bring wealth to France and Louisiana. He also created this to overcome the dominance that the English had in this trade and to create a possible monopoly.

French Settlements

Why was geography so important when determining where to settle? So that settlements could be placed where they would survive and prosper using features such as rivers and fertile land

Fear of British invasion in Louisiana The French let LaSalle's claim sit for 11 years with no actions taken to begin the colony. What would make them decided to begin the colony after all of those years? Explain. Fear of British invasion in Louisiana If they did not colonize and begin to fortify, they could have lost everything.

IBERVILLE SETTLEMENT: Fort Maurepas & Fort de Mississippi (Biloxi) (Braithewait, LA) GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES: Gulf of Mexico, Lake Pontchartrain, Bayou St. John, Mississippi River REASONS FOR SETTLING: The purpose of these sites was to protect the French colony from invasions from other European nations.

Describe what happened to Bienville while Iberville was away in France. While Iberville was in France, Bienville continued to explore the regions surrounding the mouth of the Mississippi river. Bienville and his men made frequent use of the portage of Bayou St. John, which made quick access to the Mississippi River from the Gulf of Mexico. “But immediate threats loomed. On September 15, 1699, while sailing the lower river, Bienville encountered a shocking site: an English ship, headed straight into French Louisiana on a mission of colonization. Bienville famously bluffed the English captain into believing that the French would forcibly expel them from the region; the departure of the vessel gave English Turn, the last meander of the Mississippi, its name.

While Iberville was in France, Bienville continued to explore the regions surrounding the mouth of the Mississippi river. Bienville and his men made frequent use of the portage of Bayou St. John, which made quick access to the Mississippi River from the Gulf of Mexico. “But immediate threats loomed. On September 15, 1699, while sailing the lower river, Bienville encountered a shocking site: an English ship, headed straight into French Louisiana on a mission of colonization. Bienville famously bluffed the English captain into believing that the French would forcibly expel them from the region; the departure of the vessel gave English Turn, the last meander of the Mississippi, its name. He encountered a British vessel on the MS River and protected the colony by bluffing them into believing he would forcibly remove them if they didn’t peacefully leave. (English Turn)

Why was Fort Maurepas no good? This incident had convinced Iberville, who had returned in January 1700, that while coastal Fort Maurepas had its advantages, it neither guarded nor exploited the true geographical prize of the region – the Mississippi River – from English invasion and other considerations. He sent his brother to select a site for a river site fort, which Bienville located on the east bank about fifty miles above the Delta.” it neither guarded nor made full use of the region from British invasion

Describe how the Indians were helpful to St. Denis. Helped him build the site for the new fort Helped grow crops and warehouses

ST. DENIS SETTLEMENT: Fort St. Jean Baptiste (Natchitoches) GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES: Red River, Cane River, Old River REASONS FOR SETTLING: The purpose of this site was to develop a trade outpost. This site created trade between the French, Indians, and the Spanish of Mexico and Texas

BIENVILLE SETTLEMENT: New Orleans REASONS FOR SETTLING: GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES: Mississippi River, Natural Levee, Bayou St. John, Lake Pontchartrain REASONS FOR SETTLING: This site was selected to control the Mississippi River and the trade that would be pursued to the interior parts of the country. It was also selected as a site that could protect the Mississippi River from other European colonies.