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Jan 1, 1524
Giovanni da Verrazano (F)
The first sign of French exploration was by Giovanni de Verrazano, an Italian explorer. They sponsored his journey to the North American coast in hopes to reach Asia. -
Jan 1, 1534
Jacques Cartier (F)
Jacques led three exploratory missions to Canada. By 1541, Cartier found Charlesbourg-Royal, recognized as the earliest French settlement in the New World. -
Samuel de Champlain (F)
Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec. -
Henry Hudson (N)
Henry Hudson's voyage to find the Northwest Passage, supported by the Dutch West India Company, resulted in claiming a colony near the New York Harbor for the Netherlands. They established a trading post near present-day Albany called Fort Orange. The Dutch also claimed posts in Africa, Asia, and South America. -
Peter Minuit (N)
Peter Minuit founded New Netherlands capital, Manhattan, after trading with Indian settlers. -
Cardinal Richelieu (F)
Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister of France, created the One Hundred Associates society. This society was the basis for an official expansion into North America and in hope to create economic success in the fur trade. -
Freedoms and Exemptions (N)
This plan allowed for large plots of land to be given to Patroons by the Dutch West India Company. The Patroons received grants from the company as well as a higher position in society and over their tenants. -
William Kieft (N)
William Kieft became the new ambitious governor of New Netherlands. He attempted to seize land claimed by the Algonquian Indians. This erupted into Keift's War, which lasted 3 years. -
Hurons (F)
The Huron tribe settled near the Great Lakes, known as the French and Indian "Middle Ground." Increased contact between these groups encouraged adaptation of French culture by the Hurons. This included the conversion of many Hurons to Catholicism. -
The Claiming of the Mississippi (F)
Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet discovered the Mississippi river and claimed the Mississippi valley region for the French. -
French and Iroquois Wars (F)
French and Iroquois War The Iroquois tribe tried to conquer the land held by Hurons. They hoped to disrupt French trading and to take over land held by the Hurons in the Great Lake region. -
"Half Freedom" (N)
New Netherlands had much more toleration for religion and rights for their settlers. This included rights for both women and slaves. They created a "Half-Freedom" plan, which gave their slaves rights to own land and support their families. Their women could go to court, own property, and borrow money. -
New Sweden (N)
Once settlers in New Netherlands reached only 9,000, the Dutch West India Company seeked help. They called the settlement New Sweden as they worked under the Swedish flag. New Netherlands conquered the settlement in 1655 claiming it for New Netherlands. -
Engagés (F)
As the Company of New France took control of French Canada, seignueries (nobles and army officers) fled into the new land. These settlers were called engagés and were similar to indentured servants. Most left the land once there service was completed. -
New York (N)
King Charles II seized new Netherlands in 1644 after a series of Anglo-Dutch Wars starting in 1652. The Dutch surrendered New Netherlands in hopes to keep their trading posts in Africa, Asia, and South America. King Charles II gave James, the Duke of York, this colony. He named it New York. -
Mississippi, Ohio, and Missouri Rivers (F)
Rivers Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette claimed the Mississippi, Ohio, and Missouri Rivers for France. This facilitated trading and expanded settlement. -
New France Remains Catholic (F)
The Edict of Nantes allowed for toleration of French Protestants (Huguenots). One hundred thousand Huguenots left France in hope to settle in New France. They were not readily accepted there, because the French government wanted Catholicism as the religion in this colony. -
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King William's War (F)
Four Major Wars Hostilities between England and France was also felt in their colonies. Tensions between French and English colonies erupted during a dispute concerning Iroquois control of trading rights. This was called King William's War. -
Great Peace of Montreal (F)
After many losses, the Iroquois knew they would not be able to defeat the French. This treaty ended hostility between the Iroquois and the French colonies. -
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Queen Anne's War (F)
Four Major Wars The English and French had lasting tensions. In 1702, after the Spanish succession, the Spanish, Dutch, and English colonies started a war known as Queen Anne's War. -
Nouvelle-Orléans (F)
New Orleans New Orleans is found by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville and claimed by the French. -
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King George's War (F)
Four Major Wars After an outbreak of fighting in Europe, as well as French and English colonies hoping to conquer the Ohio River Valley, war broke loose for a third time between the French and English. -
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French and Indian War (F)
French and English colonies were still competing for land in the Ohio River Valley. The English began to settle in lands claimed by the French, as well as corrupting trade between the French and Native Americans. -
Treaty of Paris (F)
End of New France Once the French surrendered at Montreal, the Treaty of Paris ended the Seven Years War. It also ended the colony of New France. All land east of the Mississippi River became British territory and all land west was given to the Spanish.
