Essay Sample on Early Colonization of the French and the English

The early colonization of North America mainly began with two European countries traveling overseas, the French and the English. These two countries had different outlooks on colonization when sending people over to conquer North American soil. Their different approaches created advantages and disadvantages for the development of their colonies. However, they shared the same desire to establish dominance in the new land. The efforts of colonization changed over time due to the differences in the French and English expansion.

The English traveled to the new land in hopes of creating New England and gaining religious freedom. They came with the desire to settle and colonize. As discussed in lecture it was believed they were allowed on the land as a result of the King and the Charter, as well as it being “God given.” The English did not make the same effort to convert the Indigenous people like the French did, but rather wanted to populate the new soil. There was rapid growth in because of the English immigration policies.2 The English tried with great effort to convince their people to travel to New England despite the lack of knowledge they had of the land. The English wanted to stay as tight to their core values and land as they possibly could, so the fear of the new land was an issue. The English were materialistic when it came to their views of the land. They saw the land only as what they could obtain from it, and what they could profit from.1 If it was not being used or being made better, then anyone who is going to do that can have it. For that reason the English were far more successful with farming and agriculture as it was a common way to earn money. They also often sat on the land until they received a high offer and became rich off of land claims. The continuing growth of the population and desire to improve the land produced an issue with gaining land and land ownership. The English did not have a regulated system like the French did since the land was not owned by royalty. It was based on self-governing and individual land ownership. However, when it came to terms with the Indigenous people, they did not see eye-to-eye. To gain land an English man have a conversation with a Sachem or leader to discuss buying land and building a new settlement. Sachems didn’t truly have the power the English thought they did, and they could not keep their people from utilizing the land. To them, agreeing on land meant that their villages had access to that certain area but not truly owning it.1 The Indigenous people did not want the land itself but rather what was on and within the land which is why they didn’t need to own it. The different idea of the “Indian deed” created conflict between the Indigenous people and the English. The English did not consider the Indigenous people to own any land rather than agricultural land, and defined land ownership in their own terms.1 As they just kept taking land and pushing the Indigenous people away from it, they began to turn against the English. They were upset with the constant taking of their land and ignoring of their justice system. Everything goes the English way. This does not allow for close ties with the indigenous people like the French had. The English do not care to integrate with them and would never consider them to be like them. The English have clear power over the Indigenous people and show it whereas the French weren’t interested in that. 

The French came to the new land with the desire of finding the NW passage and if they couldn’t accomplish that they at least wanted to become part of the fur trade. Jacques Cartier was the captain sent over by the king to find the passage but failed. However, his expedition was not a failure as his exploration of the land was valuable and gave hope for future discoveries.4 They also wanted to Christianize the Indigenous people and make them more like the French. God had a strong influence during the Voyage of Jacques Cartier, and this journal sheds light on the efforts of the French. As stated in the Journal of Cartier’s Voyage, “Seeing the suffering of these people and their faith, the captain read aloud the Gospel of St. John…”3 They began exposing the Indigenous people to their religious beliefs in hopes they would be accepting of it. They were to live closely with the Indigenous people to not only make them Christian but also make them more civilized.4 The French do not come over to establish colonies at first, and Belmessous’ journal states it “was not on the king’s agenda.”4 New France was considered to be joint-stock at first under the control of the Company of 100 Associates. They had a monopoly on the fur trade and only focused on making a profit from trading with the Indigenous people rather than developing New France. This causes the Royal Colony to take over to do what the Company of 100 Associates was to do. The growth of their population was slow and gradual, by 1672 around 5,000 French people had settled in New France2. Although the French had low population in their settlements but occupied far more land the English. Nearing the end of the 17th century, the French gained an abundance of territory.4 New France replicated their government of their homeland in which the King of France was the owner of all things, feudalism. The people of New France were compelled to do some sort of work for the Royal Colony to gain land, once allowed to live on the land they would owe crops and/or money to the government. This job was typically given to seigneurs to take care of for the King. There were far less land ownership issues in New France thanks to the system they had, it was well regulated and had less private ownership. Due to this concept, the French did not view the land like the English did, which was only for profit. The Government expected the people of New France to take on agriculture but the plantations frequently failed.3 The fur trade was the most profitable venture in New France nothing like New England in that you could make money elsewhere or within your own land from agriculture. Despite these failed efforts the French showed far more respect for the land and Indigenous people which allowed them to create stronger alliances. They shared some of the same values as the Indigenous people and in which they made do with what they had.4 The French allowed the Indigenous people to become “French” citizens and accepted them into their own culture but wouldn’t typically refer to them as one of their own. They also accepted that the indigenous people had their own ways of living which allowed for the two groups to integrate. The French also made great efforts in the consideration of Indigenous law and justice rather than inflict their own law system. Overall, the French were more thoughtful in their colonization of New France. 

The efforts of colonization changed over time due to the differences in the French and English expansion. They both came across their own battles, maybe one less than the other. The English often created problems for themselves, whereas the French seemed to be more neutral. Nonetheless they were settled in one way or another. These ideas are important in the understanding of the rise of the 13 colonies and European dominance in North America. The establishment of New England and New France happened with different goals across different timelines.