Canadienne francais, coureur des bois, seigneur, voyager, Metis, Acadian, Franco-American, Creole, Quebecois, Haitian — the French in North America have been known by many names. The history of the French in North America offers a fascinating juxtaposition to the English speaking history of North America that most Americans know. Instead of the colonial period, we will focus on the Imperial Period from about 1500 until 1803.

From a French perspective, the 1500s were dominated by commercial fishing interests, exploration of the Atlantic coast, and failed settlements. The 1600s were characterized by settlements in Acadia and the St. Lawrence River Valley, and increasing tension with the British colonies to the south. The 1700s saw the rise of the sugar islands in the Caribbean and the loss of the French North American empire. The 1800s witnessed the quest for survival on an English-speaking continent and the vast migration of rural French Canadians to the mill towns of New England. The 1900s were a period of great transition for North American French: assimilation in the USA and a striving for independence in Canada. A complex history; still evolving.

This course will combine lecture with class discussions.