New World (France)
The term "New World" as it pertains to France refers primarily to the regions of the Americas colonized by France, starting in the 16th century. These included large portions of eastern North America, several Caribbean islands, and areas of South America.
France's colonial presence in the New World, often referred to as Nouvelle-France (New France), began with explorations by figures like Jacques Cartier, who claimed land in what is now Canada in the name of the French crown. Subsequent colonization efforts established settlements along the St. Lawrence River, including Quebec City and Montreal, which became the centers of French power in North America.
French colonization was characterized by a focus on the fur trade, establishing alliances with Indigenous populations for resource acquisition. Unlike English colonies further south, New France maintained a relatively smaller settler population and emphasized economic partnerships with Indigenous groups. Jesuit missionaries also played a significant role in New France, seeking to convert Indigenous people to Catholicism.
Key territories claimed and controlled by France included:
- Canada (New France): Including Quebec, Ontario, and parts of the Maritime provinces.
- Louisiana: A vast territory encompassing the Mississippi River basin, named after King Louis XIV.
- Caribbean Islands: Including Saint-Domingue (present-day Haiti), Martinique, and Guadeloupe.
- French Guiana: A South American territory on the northern coast.
French influence in the New World significantly impacted the region's culture, language, and governance. Even after France lost much of its North American territory to Great Britain following the French and Indian War (part of the Seven Years' War) in 1763, French language and cultural heritage remained strong in many communities, particularly in Quebec and Louisiana. The Haitian Revolution, sparked in France's wealthiest colony of Saint-Domingue, also profoundly shaped the history of the Caribbean and the wider Atlantic world.