EUROPEANS EXPLORE AND COLONIZE THE AMERICAS

Introduction

Although France sponsored a few voyages of exploration in the early 1500's, it was too involved in domestic religious conflicts at that time to compete with Portugal and Spain for overseas possessions. Until the next century France took steps to establish settlements in America.

Among the reasons for French interest in the New world were the following: (1) It hoped to find a passage to the East Indies through or around North America. (2) It wished to build an overseas empire in the Western Hemisphere. (3) It wanted to gain control of the fishing banks off New found land .(4) French traders were attracted by opportunities to obtain furs in North America.(5) The Catholic Church in France was eager to send missionaries to convert the Indians.

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