Chapter 2.2
French Colonies in North America: Fur Trade, New France & Colonial Expansion
Discover how France built a vast colonial empire through strategic exploration, the fur trade, and unique partnerships with Indigenous peoples across North America.
What You'll Learn
France built New France through fur trade and river exploration.
The seigneurial system organized land and governance in New France.
Jesuit missionaries bridged French and Indigenous cultures diplomatically.
French territorial claims later shaped American expansion and history.
What You'll Practice
1
Students analyze French trading posts and fur trade economic strategies.
2
Learners identify key vocabulary like coureurs de bois and voyageurs.
3
Questions test understanding of French governance and settlement patterns.
Why This Matters
Understanding French colonial expansion in North America helps students trace how European competition for territory, trade, and cultural influence shaped the foundations of modern North American society.
This Unit Includes
Practice exercises
Learning resources
Skills
Fur Trade
New France
Seigneurial System
Colonial Exploration
Indigenous Relations
OH Curriculum Aligned
