Why Did France Lose Its North American Colonies?

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▶ In this video I talk about how France lost North America. New France, the french colony, once occupied a significant part of what are today the United States and Canada. Through their initial colony in Quebec, they expanded further through conquest and colonization; for instance against the Iroquois who they faced along with other native allies. After fully establishing themselves in Northern Canada, they expanded South and West into what became known as 'Louisiana'. Many of these territories were then lost to the British through various wars. In 1713, the Peace of Utrecht that followed the Spanish War of Succession took away Newfoundland and Rupert's land. Later, in 1763, the Peace of Paris that followed the Seven Years War / French and Indian War saw France accept British control over Iroquois territories, as well as ceding all remaining French Canadian territories to them. In addition, all territories West of the Mississippi river were ceded to both the British and Spanish, with Louisiana itself being given to Spain as well. Later, Napoleon attempted to rebuild a French North American Empire, recovering Louisiana from Spain but quickly realizing this endeavour was a mistake. A successful revolution in Haiti and the prospect of another with the British led Napoleon to sell the entire territory to the United States for a mere $15 million dollars, even though the initial American offer was only to purchase New Orleans for $10 million. With this, French presence in North America went from about a third of the continent, to a couple of very small islands off the coast of Canada - Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
01:19 Learn French with Babbel!
02:24 Arrival in North America
03:42 Expansion
04:53 Royal takeover
06:31 Louisiana
08:13 First losses (1713)
09:45 Mid-war period
11:02 Louisiana in crisis
12:33 Losing Canada (1763)
13:43 Selling Louisiana (1803)
14:54 The remnants of New France
15:55 Summary

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[General.Knowledge]

*Would you have liked to see France retain American territory for longer?*
Also, Start speaking a new language in 3 weeks with Babbel 🎉.

[aaronmarks]

Fun fact, along with the French speakers of Canada and Louisiana, there is (or was until very recently) a small population of French speakers in Missouri, in the central US. They're descendants of 18th-century French settlers from the era when France claimed and largely controlled the Mississippi River.

[xenotypos]

One important thing that is rarely highlighted is how (until the 19th century) France mainly viewed colonies as short term cash, and didn't care as much about colonization, especially as a way to expand, as Britain or Spain did. I see France in 17th and 18th century as mostly a european continental power, with only secondary views on colonies. It may seem the wrong choice today, now that those territories aren't that empty anymore, partly thanks to some intense immigration in the 19th/20th centuries especially from Europe. But that wasn't that obvious back then that those territories would become so relevant in the future, especially in terms of soft power nowadays.

[illustrecombattante]

Great video! I'm from Québec and I actually learned (or relearned) a few things!

I find it quite special that French is still spoken in many regions of North America, mostly Quebec like you said, but also with a large French speaking population in Acadia, Eastern and Northeastern Ontario (where I currently live), Manitoba, and smaller communities in other area.

[alexrobi]

I always imagine the alternate timeline where French language and influence wasn't lost in Acadia and Newfoundland, but still managed to go under british rule. A Canada where the entire Eastern portion is French and the west is English. Or imagine a US where the other empires that claimed it had a significant cultural and linguistic impact. A united states where many states are speaking English, Spanish, French, and even Dutch. It would become a very linguistically diverse country.

[OtakuVonBismarck]

Video idea: most interesting military operations planned but not carried(e.g. Operation Tannebaum-invasion plan for Switzerland, Operation Pike-bombing plan by UK against the USSR, Operation Gertrude- invasion plan for Turkey by Germany and Bulgaria etc).

[HardcoreFourSix]

Great video. My ancestors were some of the original French Immigrants to Canada (and also Huron ancestors). SOme were soldiers and some came with their families. Many were Filles du Roi.

[itinerantpatriot]

That is a decent summation of events at the macro-level, but France's long-term prospects in North America were never as solid as the Brits for a reason touched on here when the commentator talks about the French population being mostly male. Unlike the British colonies which were established by planters and religious groups that wanted to plant roots, New France was largely seen as a way for men get rich in the fur trade. Most of them weren't looking to develop the land or religious freedom. Their plan was to make a few bucks and return to France.

They had some major ports like New Orleans but nothing on the scale of the building that went on on the East Coast of North America. People had a stake in the land by the 18th Century and were not only willing to fight for it, they wanted to expand. That was one of the gripes the colonists had with the Crown after the French-Indian War. Their British overlords wanted to hem them in to keep peace with the Indians. The colonists living in the British colonies had more to fight for and were better motivated as a result.

[davepatton]

Thanks for putting the Seven Years War And the French and Indian War together since as an American I learned it as the French and Indian war rather than the Seven Years War

[mariajoaoferrazdeabreu]

Congrats, beautiful images. Keep up the good work.

[annehersey]

Imagine how the US would look today. The Eastern third would speak English, the middle part would speak French and West of the Rockies and South of the Great Salt Lake would speak Spanish with the states North of the Great Salt Lake speaking Russian! What an interesting country. I wonder if the US was broken into 4 or more countries if we would have had a close relationship with Britain and Europe as we have today?

[kingguernon]

The single colonies France didn't lose in the Americas are the French Caribbean, St Pierre and Miquelon and French Guiana, but French is still spoken in the Americas

[ConradCaribou]

Bonjour from Québec! Merci beaucoup pour la vidéo! I mourn the loss of our beautiful North American "empire" every so often and I can't help but imagine what the world would look like if things had gotten our way.

I thought I was well-versed in the history of New France, but you actually made me learn a few things, such as the Mississippi Bubble and Fort Saint-Louis, Texas. I've got to read more about Louisiana. Cheers!

[aaronmarks]

There was another British-French war between the two mentioned in the video: the War of the Austrian Succession, known as King George's War in anglophone North America. It involved a British expedition to capture French Nova Scotia, especially the fortress of Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island. One of my great-great-etc. grandfathers was a British subject from Massachusetts who was conscripted and sent on the expedition, where he was killed before the walls of Louisbourg.

[Alkalus]

I dig the new transition styles you're using, General.

[bmjv]

I'm Quebecois on my father's side. One of my 8x Great Grandmother was a filles du roi.

[annehersey]

Fun fact!!! St. Pierre and Miquelon were actually 'invaded' by DeGaulle's Free French army in WWII!! It appears that some citizens of the Islands were tipping off Germany to when and how big the convoys taking supplies to Britain were thereby alerting the Wolf Pack of Submarines to their route. This was devastating to US shipping so DeGaulle and some of his troops landed on the Islands and a few troops stayed there to make sure the spying stopped. No shots were ever fired and no fighting happened. The Islanders weren't happy but life went on and shortly Germany took over Vichy after the Allies landed in Africa so there is a chance that if DeGaulle hadn't made this move, Germans might have occupied the islands.

[HelloEarthling]

Learn French to riot with them. You're a real one dude.

[StuTun]

Great video. I like the new chapter title cards, they are cool.

Good luck with your French lessons, I thought you would be learning Danish because of your gf.

[Heavy-metaaal]

Bon Jour! Je ne parle français.
I think this loss was due to other wars France had.
France had other priorities at that time.
I would be interesting to have a French America. 🤔