European Imperialism, French Colonialism, and the Legacy of New France

Imperialism became an important force in the development of European nations when the New World was discovered. Each European nation tried to gain control of colonies around the world. Motivation for this wave of imperialism was driven by exploration, making profits for business, and collecting national treasuries. As each nation became more involved in accruing power through wealth as a method of trying to control European rivals, imperialism became a quest for power and empire building.

French Fortress at Louisbourg, Cape Breton
Pete Ryan/National Geographic Stock

The French were relative latecomers to the race for colonies in the New World. Spain, Portugal, and Britain had sent explorers several decades before the French. French imperialism relied upon the patronage of the king, who controlled efforts to colonize new territories through a system of licenses, or later, through direct control by royal appointees. By the mid-1800s, the French empire was second in size only to the British empire.

An important motive in later French imperialism was the mission civilisatrice, a mission to civilize their colonial subjects whom they found backwards and oppressed. This belief was almost like a crusade in which the French tried to implant Roman Catholicism and French culture.

French business interests were heavily involved in Canadian fishing and the fur trade. Temporary outposts were set up as mercantile colonies. Under this system of mercantilism, they existed to provide resources and markets to the mother country. French businessmen were given royal monopolies to trade in Canada. In exchange, they brought settlers into the territory. However, this method of settlement proved unsuccessful, because these businessmen were mainly interested in exploiting resources for profit.

The policy of mercantile colonialism had not been successful in creating permanent settlements. By the late 1600s, only 3,000 French residents were in Canada. With the rapid growth of the thirteen British colonies (in what is now the United States), King Louis XIV of France attempted to expand the effectiveness of French imperialism by establishing direct royal government within the colony. A new system of land ownership was created, and new policies attracted additional settlers. All these changes marked large changes to the Indigenous peoples of this part of North America. By the early 1700s, there were 20,000 French people living in North America from Newfoundland to the Mississippi to the Great Lakes.

Although France eventually lost her colonies in Canada, the people of Quebec and other regions of Canada remained French speaking. Today, that strong Francophone identity remains. The legacy of French colonialism is strong in Canada and around the world.