French vs English

The French had conquered Canada in North America, but the British came and tried to take the land. In 1534 Jacques Cartier explored the St. Lawrence River and claimed Canada for the French. Then I came along and built settlement in Quebec in 1608. Canada became a vast trading area for fur, leather, fish, and timber thanks to me. However, we were thinly populated. There wasn't much support from France for the conquest of North America. The treaty of Utrecht gave parts of Canada to the English. Towards the end of the 7 Years' War Canada was won over by the English. It is a shame to see all my hard work and effort be dismissed just like that. I hope that the French can become more powerful and try to win back what is ours, but I highly doubt we can defeat the English especially after the war. Let all know that Canada was won for France and we will forever be its founding country. Let our culture still flourish in the new land and France be an important part of its history along with Cartier and myself. Nonetheless, I have pride in my country and wish for future French explorers to mark great events for French history. French and English Rivalry by linksnorth

Slave Trade

Slaves were being sent from Africa and the Mediterraneans to the New World for labor. The triangular trade consisted of goods like such as guns, gin, and cloth shipped to Africa. Then, slaves shipped from Africa to the Americas, and goods such as sugar, rum, and coffee were imported back to Europe. The amount of slave imports increased greatly for the next century or so, but then started to subside after that. I think that slaves are a necessity for labor in the New World because we need people working, and yet we save money to pay workers. But, the journey from Africa to America was a horrible experience. It took about a hundred days to get there and usually only ten percent of the slaves survived. On the ship there was little room, the conditions were unsanitary, and the slaves were put in chains. Those who survived the journey are exposed to the diseases in the new land. Slaves born in America tend to be more immune to these illnesses. However, owners discourage slaves from having children for they were just burdens to take care of. It is sad how they lived, but nonetheless, many countries continued slavery. France on the other hand, abolished slavery after the French Revolution and soon after the British followed. The end to slavery in France meant that there was more equality among the common people. The Diligent: A Voyage Through the Worlds of the Slave Trade by Dr. Robert Harms, professor at Yale University

sources

http://www.samueldechamplain.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_de_Champlain
http://www.thecahttp://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Samuel_de_Champlainnadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0001505
Primary source:
http://www.historiclakes.org/S_de_Champ/Champlain1.html (part 1)
http://www.historiclakes.org/S_de_Champ/Champlain2.html (part 2)

Discovery of Lands

Without the bringing out of the age of exploration, I probably wouldn’t be a navigator. Thank you to Magellan and Columbus who sailed and put exploration on the stage for us. Portugal, being the country that sailed the most, pushed many other countries to want to voyage across sea for trade and expansion of land. The French navigator, Jacques Cartier, founded New France for France and without him; I couldn’t have set up Quebec and discovered new lands and rivers. The experiences of these explorers contributed to maps and charts that were oblivious of land masses and waterways. Bartholemeu Dias sailed for Portugal and discovered the Cape of Good Hope but unfortunately didn’t go around it. Vasco de Gama took the risk and sailed around the cape and voyaged to India and the Spice Islands. This opened up a new passage around Africa to East Asia. Another example is the Spanish conquering of Mesoamerica and South America, thanks to Cortes and Pizarro. I hope I can follow the footsteps of these great people and be a part of the great wall of explorers. age of exploration by mandybbo

Motives and Means

Expansion means a lot to voyagers like me. I like it mainly because of the glory and gold. However, my view on this idea of “God, Glory, and Gold” is that I believe it will bring lots of merchandise and increase revenue for European countries. For my country, I have brought forth a great trading company. Fur is wildly popular and makes a great imported good to ship to France, since we have abundance from our native friends from whom we have traded with.  All this wealth coming from the new world brings an economic expansion to Europe. Without the support of monarchs and aristocrats, it is difficult to set a voyage overseas. I was lucky enough to be funded by the French king and few nobles to fulfill my expedition to New France, also known as Canada. When I reached my destination, I was able to explore lands and rivers and set up a new colony for my country. I couldn’t have sailed without the help of navigational tools such as the compass and astrolabes. These tools made traveling and sailing more efficient and easy. New ship and sailing techniques like the discovery of wind patterns and the axial rudders made trips shorter and more manageable. I am glad to be able to do what I love and hope to be remembered for what I have done for the expansion into the New World. 

god, glory, and gold  by xxlaurena at youtube

Hello There!

Bonjour! Allow me to introduce myself. I am Samuel de Champlain of France and was born in Brouage, Saintonge, on the Bay of Biscay, in 1567.  My father was a captain of a ship, and so I received a great education on navigation. I took command of the St. Julien in 1599, and sailed for the West Indies. It took me two and a half years to visit the islands and returned through the Isthmus of Panama. In "Bref discours" I made a summary of the voyage with views and charts. Then I sail on March 15, 1603 for the king to explore territory in North America.

  (This isn’t really me, I had no authentic portraits of myself, but many people use the paintings of Michel Particelli d'Emery)

During 1604-1606, I explored the coast up to Cape Cod and make careful surveys and maps as I sailed. I returned to France with my crew in 1607. My crew and I were sent out once more, and this time I decided to form a settlement in Quebec. Here, we started building houses, sowing grain, and developing the fur trade. I also made some new native friends of the Montagnais tribe. We allied and tried to fight the Iroquois at a lake that I named after myself. On the day after, the battle began and I killed two of their chiefs and defeated them in this battle. A rival between French and our allies against the Iroquois had begun. 

(This drawing is of an Iroquois family, notice the fur there) 

In March of 1610, I returned to my homeland and brought some mechanics back to America. We started another war with the Iroquois, and this was when I was struck by an arrow. I told Du Pare to take my place as I returned to France. Back in France, I fell in love and married a Protestant woman named Helen Boulle. I persuaded Count de Soissons to take interest in the colonization project, and received funding from him. In 1612, he was appointed governor and lieutenant-general of New France, and I was appointed his lieutenant. 

After winning my new title, I send some more vessels to Canada, and sailed to explore the Ottawa River. I proved Vignaud wrong, as he had stated that it connected to the North Sea. There was no such passage. I moved westward on the Ottawa River and reached the shore of Lake Huron. After exploring Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, and the St. Lawrence River, I arrived at the Sorel. Here, I tried to attack a town belonging to the Iroquois, but was defeated and severely injured. After my recovery at a Huron town, I was more hopeful in the expansion of Quebec and brought my wife over to Canada. Quebec enlarges its boundaries, increased in population, and prospered. However, this didn’t go quite well when a British fleet under Sir David Kirk wanted me to surrender Quebec. 

I broke out in defiance, but soon had to surrender for the British were attacking our vessels and supplies. I became a prisoner of England and wasn’t freed until 1632. A treaty put Canada, Acadia, and Cape Breton under French control. As I returned to Quebec, I strengthened and developed the colony. I also established a fort at Richelieu Island and a college in Quebec. My years came to an end in 1635, when I was struck with paralysis and died. My short life story by valloucelery on youtube