The Role Of Immigrants In French America

In the chapter French America the author talks about the French American immigrants and the opportunity the emigrants gain from immigrating to the new land. New France originally consisted of two separate sectors the valley and the interior forest and lakes of the upper country. The French wanted to expand their trade, so they followed the Mississippi river down to the Gulf of Mexico; finding Louisiana. The trade between the French colonist and the Indians was threatened when the imperial officials called for a Canadian retreat, due to the lack of economy. Canadian immigrants were mostly the peasants of France, so when they came over their station in life actually improved. It started when the French crown decided they needed more colonist to inhabit New France. Although, there were few French colonist then English colonist, due to the cultural values and institutional obstacles. Even though, the poor French lived in worse and harsher conditions, then the poor English families they still stayed in France. When the emigrants come over seas, they gain an opportunity to

Lawrence Valley. Living along the river, having their houses and farms line along the river bank with visitors traveling by boat down the river. With peace and an alliance between the settlers and Iroquois brought better security, prosperity and development to the valley. In the valley the Indians that resided there were known as the mission Indians, learning the ways of the French colonist and providing them with protection in return respect for their autonomy. The interior forest was where the colonist and Indians exercised the dispersed trade. The Iroquois and the colonist became a very strong alliance helping each other in battle and gaining land, letting the French traders set up trading post around the Great Lakes and Canada. To keep the peace the French would give gifts to the chief leaders of the Indian