A history of the United States for beginners: for use in elementary schools By William Bramwell Powell

A history of the United States for ... - Google Books:

"10. THE FRENCH

While the English were building homes and The French establishing colonies between the mountains and colonization, the Atlantic Ocean, men from a country in Europe called France were making explorations beyond the mountains.

The French were fur-traders, buying furs from the Indians and giving them fair value for what they bought. The French traders, many of whom married Indian women, treated the Indians in every way as if they were their equals. In this way the French and Indians became very friendly, so that the French did not have the dangers, of Indian warfare to contend with, except from a few tribes which were always friendly with the English.

Whenever there was trouble between France The French and England in the old country across the ocean, the English colonists in America and the French fur-traders took up the quarrel. There was then war in America. In these wars the French had the aid of the Indians. But even then the English colonists were always successful, although many people were killed, many homes burned, and some settlements entirely destroyed.

The first of these wars began in 1689 and lasted until 1697. The last one, which began in 1754, was waged until 1763. During all that time between these two wars the thirteen colonies grew larger and stronger,"

The colonists learned by these wars that they must depend on themselves for help in their troubles. Although Great Britain sent over soldiers to help her colonies, yet these soldiers did not know how to fight either the wild Indians or the French of America, who had become accustomed to life in the wilds of the new country. Moreover, the English colonists of America had become, to a certain extent, accustomed to governing their own affairs. They had learned how strong they were when united against a common enemy.

NEW FRANCE

How New You know that bordering the United States '*

settled. on the north is a country which belongs to Great Britain, called Canada. Many years ago Canada belonged to France. Samuel de Champlain should be remembered as the Father of Canada, as John Smith is of Virginia, or William Penn of Pennsylvania. It was he who established the first permanent settlement of French people in that country. Robert de La Salle is another man whom we should always remember with great respect. By his heroic efforts the great country beyond the Appalachian Mountains, from the Great Lakes to the mouth of the Mississippi River. was opened to white men for settlement.

The French people did not come to this country so much with the intention of establishing

new homes for themselves as to secure wealth Object of by trading with the Indians. Because they saw the great dangers of living in a wild, unbroken country, surrounded by savages who were not friendly, they treated the Indians as they would

Kobkrt Chevalier De La Salle.

have treated a race of white people with whom Their they wished to carry on trade. They gave tt[ie0atTMTMatn°/ them fair values for their furs. They did not cheat them in their dealings with them. In many instances French traders married Indian

women. At all times, wherever fur-traders were found, there, in the same company, was a French priest, who fearlessly went among the Indians, giving them medicine in their illness, dressing their wounds after battles, and doing what he could to convert them to Christianity. The French were rewarded for their kindness and honesty by having the Indians as their friends.