• The French explored North America for these
reasons:
– In search of a water route through the New
World known as the Northwest Passage (all
three European countries were in search of
a faster, cheaper trade route to Asia)
– A source of wealth through fur trade with
the American Indians and First Nations
– To convert American Indians and First
Nations to Christianity
• They explored Canada, the Louisiana Territory,
and islands within the Caribbean; they
eventually set up trading settlements and forts
for protection of those settlements.