Unit 1

Early Canada

 Lesson 2

How were the first permanent French colonies established in North America?

In Lesson 2, you will see how France expanded its empire and how the settlement of Quebec was established.

In the 1600s, Canada was a vast wilderness without any settlements. The inhabitants at the time were the various Aboriginal groups.

Who was the first European to explore the territory that was Canada? How did his travels affect the establishment of Canada?

Samuel de Champlain was an explorer who worked to build a colony at Quebec and helped to establish the fur trade. He was an important person and one of the key figures who helped build Canada. He is considered “the Father of New France”.