French Exploration of the Americas

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French Exploration of the Americas
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French Motives

• The French came to America for the fur trade
• France was the fashion capital of the world
• The French were not interested in riches or land,
  they just wanted to be business partners with the
  Native Americas
• Many Indians became allies with the French

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French Exploration of the Americas

• The French explored areas rich in animal pelts
  since they were here to further their fur trade
• They settled in present day Louisiana, the Great
  Lakes, and Canada

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European Settlement Indian Tribes, 1750
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The Seven Years War

• In 1754, the British and the French began the
  Seven Years War to determine who would rule in
  North America
• The French and Indian War was part of this longer
  war and actually took place on the North American
  continent

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The French and Indian War

• The French formed military alliances with many
  Native American tribes, due to their friendly
  trade relations
• They utilized guerilla-type warfare
• After nine years of fighting, the British won all
  land east of the Mississippi River

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Effects of the War

• The French loss was also considered a Native
  American loss
• Many tribes were punished for siding with the
  French
• Ottawa chief, Pontiac, was given small pox
  infected blankets by the British for having
  captured eight British forts during the war