French Colonies in America

Children's Literature - Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger

Beginning with a group a straggling soldiers coming ashore on a strange land in 1534, the French remained in America as a significant presence for more than 200 years. This edition of the "We the People" series traces the role of French settlers and the influential relationships of French colonists with the Indians and the British. French settlers established New France and struggled to maintain the colony in the face of a harsh climate and disputes with Native Americans and English settlers. The King of France sent settlers and women to the new colonies, determined to establish permanent French colonies in the new land. La Salle explored the rivers and claimed a vast territory for France, which he named Louisiana in honor of the French king, but British colonists far outnumbered the French. Ongoing battles culminated in the French and Indian War (17544—1763), which marked the end of French expansion in America. The text includes a short discussion of how French influence remains in the United States and Canada, as well as an index, a glossary, fact highlights, and books and internet resources for further study. Reviewer: Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger