France and The Netherlands in north american John Cabot landing in North America

EQ: How did the French interact with the natives in North America

Settlement of Quebec

Why it matters… European countries competed for the best trade routes and for control of lands in North America. In the early 1600s, England, France, and the Netherlands set explorers to North America to stake claims of land.

New France French began to settle colonies in early 1600s In 1603, Samuel de Champlain made the first of 11 voyages to explore and map eastern Canada, along the St. Lawrence river. In 1608, he established the settlement of Quebec His exploration and activities gave the French an influence in the region that lasted 150 years

Life in New France was very different from New Spain The French, who wanted fish and furs, traded with Native Americans for the animal skins they sold in Europe The Spanish, who wanted gold and silver, forced Native Americans into harsh labor.

Champlain convinced Native Americans to bring pelts to French trading posts. Trading posts such as Quebec City and Montreal became busy centers of commerce. Coureurs de bois acquired pelts from Native Americans, and many of them married Native American women and started families.

Dutch land claims in North America were based on Henry Hudson’s explorations of the Hudson River. In 1610, Dutch traders began trading with Native Americans in the Hudson River valley. The trade was so profitable that the Dutch West India Company established a colony in what the Dutch called “New Netherland.”

New Netherland New Albany In 1624, about 300 settlers arrived from the Netherlands. Most of them settled at Fort Orange (later renamed New Albany). New Amsterdam In 1626, another group settled at the mouth of the Hudson River on land purchased from Native Americans. The colonists named their new home New Amsterdam. By 1653, it had a population of 800.

Native Americans traded fur pelts to the French and Dutch in exchange for goods such as cloth, iron pots and tools, and guns. Ultimately, however, the fur trade had grave effects on Native Americans. disease war lost food and land

Reading Skill: Combine Main Ideas to Construct Meanings Main Ideas: New France • Along the St. Lawrence River, the Great Lakes, and Mississippi River • Begun by Champlain • At first based on fur trade with Native Americans • When fur trade declined, settlers wanted land for farming Main Ideas: New Netherland • In Hudson River Valley • Based on trade with Native Americans • Main settlements were New Albany, New Amsterdam • Seized by English in 1664 Overall Main Idea: French and Dutch colonies dramatically changed lives of Native Americans. Main Ideas: Effects of Fur Trade on Native Americans • European diseases killed many Native Americans • French allied with Hurons, Dutch with Iroquois, leading to fighting • Overtrapping led to loss of food and decline of fur trade • Growing European settlement led to loss of land

Ticket out: How were natives impacted by French and Dutch colonization? Where are you on the scale today?