New France

Quick Facts: Who was New France?

Subject:

New France

Known for:

France's vast North American colony, spanning from Newfoundland to the Gulf of Mexico.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

New France was the territory colonized by France in mainland North America, beginning with the exploration of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Great Britain and Spain in 1763 under the Treaty of Paris. A vast viceroyalty, New France consisted of five colonies at its peak in 1712, each with its own administration: Canada, the most developed colony, which was divided into the districts of Quebec (around what is now called Quebec City), Trois-Rivières, and Montreal; Hudson Bay; Acadia in the northeast; Terre-Neuve on the island of Newfoundland; and Louisiana. It extended from Newfoundland to the Canadian Prairies and from Hudson Bay to the Gulf of Mexico, including all the Great Lakes of North America. The continent-traversing Saint Lawrence and Mississippi rivers were means of carrying French influence through much of North America. In the 16th century, the lands were used primarily to extract natural resources, such as furs, through trade with the various indigenous peoples.

Career & Major Achievements

In the seventeenth century, successful settlements began in Acadia and in Quebec. In the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, France ceded to Great Britain its claims over mainland Acadia, Hudson Bay, and Newfoundland. France established the colony of Île Royale on Cape Breton Island, where they built the Fortress of Louisbourg. The population rose slowly but steadily. In 1754, New France's population consisted of 10,000 Acadians, 55,000 Canadiens, and about 4,000 settlers in upper and lower Louisiana; 69,000 in total.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The British expelled the Acadians in the Great Upheaval from 1755 to 1764, and their descendants are dispersed in the Maritime provinces of Canada and in Maine and Louisiana, with small populations in Chéticamp, Nova Scotia, and the Magdalen Islands. Some also went to France. After the Seven Years' War (which included the French and Indian War in America), France ceded the rest of New France to Great Britain and Spain in the Treaty of Paris of 1763, although fishing rights around Newfoundland were retained. To assist with those fishing rights, Great Britain returned the islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, which had been lost in 1713. Britain acquired Canada, Acadia, and French Louisiana east of the Mississippi River, except for the Île d'Orléans, which was granted to Spain with the territory to the west.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1534: 1534 Milestone — New France was the territory colonized by France in mainland North America, beginning with the exploration of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Great Britain and Spain in 1763 under the Treaty of Paris.
2. 1712: 1712 Milestone — A vast viceroyalty, New France consisted of five colonies at its peak in 1712, each with its own administration: Canada, the most developed colony, which was divided into the districts of Quebec (around what is now called Quebec City), Trois-Rivières, and Montreal; Hudson Bay; Acadia in the northeast; Terre-Neuve on the island of Newfoundland; and Louisiana.
3. 1713: 1713 Milestone — In the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, France ceded to Great Britain its claims over mainland Acadia, Hudson Bay, and Newfoundland.
4. 1754: 1754 Milestone — In 1754, New France's population consisted of 10,000 Acadians, 55,000 Canadiens, and about 4,000 settlers in upper and lower Louisiana; 69,000 in total.
5. 1755: 1755 Milestone — The British expelled the Acadians in the Great Upheaval from 1755 to 1764, and their descendants are dispersed in the Maritime provinces of Canada and in Maine and Louisiana, with small populations in Chéticamp, Nova Scotia, and the Magdalen Islands.
6. 1763: 1763 Milestone — After the Seven Years' War (which included the French and Indian War in America), France ceded the rest of New France to Great Britain and Spain in the Treaty of Paris of 1763, although fishing rights around Newfoundland were retained.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: New France

True or False: “The Treaty of Paris in 1763 resulted in France retaining all its claims east of the Mississippi River.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The treaty saw France cede most of New France to Great Britain and Spain; only fishing rights around Newfoundland were retained.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Abbé Prévost — Historical peer (Died in 1763) (1763): French novelist, best known for the highly popular romance, Manon Lescaut.
• Adalbert Gyrowetz — Historical peer (Born in 1763) (1763): Czech-Austrian composer known for symphonies and string quartets.
• Francesco Algarotti — Historical peer (Born in 1712) (1712): Italian polymath, philosopher, and influential art critic of the Enlightenment.
• Frederick the Great — Historical peer (Born in 1712) (1712): King of Prussia, military genius, and Enlightenment patron who transformed his nation.
• Arcangelo Corelli — Historical peer (Died in 1713) (1713): Pioneering Italian composer and violinist of the Baroque era.
• Charlotte Charke — Historical peer (Born in 1713) (1713): Pioneering English actress, writer, and playwright known for her career under various aliases.
• Abraham de Moivre — Historical peer (Died in 1754) (1754): Pioneering French mathematician known for complex numbers, probability theory, and the normal distribution.
• Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord — Historical peer (Born in 1754) (1754): Master diplomat whose career spanned nearly all of modern French history.

Frequently Asked Questions about New France