What were French explorers looking for in the New World?

What were French explorers looking for in the New World?

Besides expanding the fur trade, the French wanted to find a river passage across North America (for a trade route to Asia), explore and secure territory, and establish Christian missions to convert Native peoples.

What were the English and French explorers looking for?

Like the Portuguese, they were interested in establishing the geography of the region, and were especially interested to find out whether a viable westerly route to Asia actually existed. This was the primary reason for those English voyages which took place after Cabot.

What things were the French and English looking for in the New World?

The French began their exploration of the New World by looking for new fishing waters and the Northwest Passage. At first, they only founded temporary trading posts, but as profits increased and more French people found their way to the New World, permanent settlements were established, such as New Orleans.

Why did the French and English explore the New World?

Background. The French first came to the New World as travelers seeking a route to the Pacific Ocean and wealth. Major French exploration of North America began under the rule of Francis I, King of France.

What were French and English explorers looking for in North America?

Gold, silver, and furs attracted European exploration, colonization, and competition in the New World. Rivalries between European nations were often rooted in religious or political feuds taking place in Europe, yet these tensions played out in the theater of the New World.

Why did the English explore the New World?

Why Did the English Come? The English did not come to Virginia for political or religious freedom. They wanted an empire in America, where Spain already was deriving great wealth. They sought gold and gems, a passage to the riches of China and the Indies, and to prey on treasure-filled Spanish galleons.

What were the reasons for English exploration?

While individual motives for exploration were mixed, the main impetus was economic—the search for riches. The English were not interested in discovery for its own sake, but sought the opportunities for trade that were opened up by new markets and new routes to existing markets.

What did the French want in the New World?

Competing with Spain, Portugal, the United Provinces (the Dutch Republic), and later Britain, France began to establish colonies in North America, the Caribbean, and India in the 17th century. The French first came to the New World as explorers, seeking a route to the Pacific Ocean and wealth.

What were the first French explorers to come to America looking for?

The French first came to the New World as explorers, seeking a route to the Pacific Ocean and wealth. Major French exploration of North America began under the rule of Francis I of France.

Why did the English explore and colonize North America?

◦ England wanted to start an American colony to increase their wealth and power so that they could compete with other European countries like Spain and France. ◦ They were hoping to be able to find silver and gold in America.

What were the explorers looking for in the New World?

The Desire for New Trade Routes European explorers found the New World by mistake; they were not looking to find new continents but new sea routes. Europeans mainly wanted to find better trade routes to China, India, and Southeast Asia.

What did the French explore in the New World?

Champlain explored the Great Lakes, Hudson Bay, and eventually made it to the Mississippi River. The French made an alliance with the Hurons and Algonquians; Champlain even agreed to fight for them against their enemy, the Iroquois. Engraving showing a battle between the Algonquians, the French, and the Iroquois.

What did the English do in the New World?

With the exception of John Cabot’s voyage to Newfoundland in 1497, the English showed little interest in the New World until the reign of Elizabeth I. Wary of confronting powerful Spain directly, Elizabeth secretly supported English seamen who raided Spanish settlements in the Western Hemisphere and captured their treasure ships.

When did French and Dutch explorers start exploration?

French, Dutch, and English explorers began to make inroads into the Americans in the late 1500s and early 1600s. Google Classroom Facebook Twitter

Who was involved in the exploration of the New World?

Key Points Spanish exploration of the New World was led by Christopher Columbus and Juan Ponce de Leon, who invaded and colonized great parts of what would become South, Central, and North America. The French Empire, led by Jacques Cartier and Giovanni da Verrazano, focused predominantly on North America.