US History

U.S. History Study Guide

3.3 New France French Settlements The French tried to establish several colonies throughout North America that failed, due to several factors including, weather, disease, and conflict with other European powers. The French claimed territory in what is now the United States in 1682 when the explorer La Salle claimed the Mississippi and the land around it for France. He called it Louisiana after King Louis XIV. This area was not just the state Louisiana but a huge chunk of the modern United States. Although the most prominent city in these borders would be New Orleans. New France made great money on the fur trade and created opportunity for those from different classes to create a new life in the large North American empire. This empire extended from the St. Lawrence River to the Mississippi River, and all the way to the Great Lakes. Throughout most of New France's history, France and England were at war in Europe. Hostilities frequently spread from Europe to America where French and English colonists raided each other's territory. This would finally erupt into a war that would settle who would be the greatest European power in North America. New Netherlands (Dutch) The Netherlands would control the Hudson River Valley for a short time; Dutch entrepreneurs would found New Netherland, a series of trading posts, towns, and forts up and down the Hudson River. From Fort Orange, the northernmost of the Dutch outposts, is known today as Albany; all the way to New Amsterdam, New York City's original name. In 1626, Peter Minuit arrived in Manhattan, sent by the West India Company to administer the colony. Minuit "purchased" Manhattan Island fromNative Americans for the now legendary price of 60 Dutch guilders (Dutch currency) equivalent to $680 U.S. dollars today. This became a very lucrative area and their neighbors the English took notice. The English arrived and with almost no effort the Dutch surrendered all their North American land in 1664. The English would claim this territory and rename it New York. 3.4 The English Colonies The English would not get involved heavily in colonization until most other Europeans powers had their claim in North America. Spain dominated South America, Mexico, the West Indies, the American Southwest, and Florida. The French held sway along North America’s major waterways. The early English settlements were therefore concentrated along the eastern coast of North America, which would become the original thirteen colonies. Push and Pull Factors to the New World First, the English saw the wealth the Spanish were getting through gold and silver throughout Mexico, although the Spanish did not have much luck finding any in North America. They saw the French and

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