French+in+Canada

French Settlement in Canada

 * In 1534, Jacques Cartier came from France to Canada to try to establish a presence inland. Their goal was to fish and trade furs. After a few trips, he tried to establish a community near present day Quebec. The community did not survive the winter, however. France, who funded the expedition, gave up and had the survivors come home.
 * A few individuals stayed behind as traders and fishermen on their own. Many years later, in the early 1600s, France again funded expeditions to the area. Again, many people who tried to stay the winter did not survive.
 * In 1603, King Henry IV put Pierre de Monts in charge of a fur trading project. The king wanted to establish a more permanent community in Canada. He told de Monts that in order to make the project last, he needed to make sure that 60 new people each year came to settle in Canada. He also wanted him to start missionary work, meaning that he wanted the French to try to convert the local people of the area.
 * The French eventually settled over much of the area that is now Quebec and Newfoundland. They constantly came into contact with British fishermen and traders. They got along for the most part. But back in Europe, France and England were struggling with each other, and eventually this effected their relations in Canada as well, and there were disputes over the land.