When and How Did the French Come to the Americas? The History of New France Through Film

Prologue: A Mysterious Continent on Screen

A scene from the film The New World (2005). European ships arrive on an unfamiliar shore through thick fog. And in Black Robe (1991), a young priest steps into a vast wilderness inhabited by Indigenous peoples.

But did you know the French also came to the Americas?

Many people only think of Columbus or the English colonies, but France actually played one of the most important roles in North American history. From Canada to Louisiana, their influence reached everywhere. Today, let's explore the French maritime adventure alongside these films.

The First Challenge: Jacques Cartier's Expedition (1534)

Why Did France Seek the Americas?

In the early 16th century, Europe was in the golden age of exploration. As Portugal and Spain claimed the wealth of the Americas, France's King Francis I grew envious.

"We must find our own riches!"

What France particularly wanted was the Northwest Passage -- a shortcut to Asia. The key lay in Canada's St. Lawrence River.

Jacques Cartier's Great Journey

In 1534, French explorer Jacques Cartier led three ships across the Atlantic. He explored present-day Newfoundland and the St. Lawrence River, making first contact with the Indigenous peoples.

Cartier's achievements:

Mapped the St. Lawrence River basin
Initiated trade with the local Indigenous peoples (the Iroquois Confederacy)
Proved that France had discovered the vast land called "Canada"
Reached the present-day Montreal area during his second expedition in 1535-1536

Interestingly, Cartier brought Indigenous children back to France to learn the language and culture. This became the beginning of the later French-Indigenous alliance.

The Birth of New France: Samuel de Champlain (1608)

From Exploration to Settlement

About 70 years had passed since Cartier's expedition. France continued to send expeditions to North America, drawn by the fur trade, but had not yet established a permanent settlement.

That's when Samuel de Champlain appeared.

The Builder of Quebec

In July 1608, Champlain built a small fort upstream on the St. Lawrence River. That place was Quebec.

"This will become the center of the fur trade, and a new France will be born."

Champlain was more than just an explorer. He:

Built friendly relationships with Indigenous peoples
Formed military alliances with local communities
Established a trade network between France and the Iroquois Confederacy
Created an economic system centered on the fur trade

All of this is vividly depicted in the film Black Robe (1991).

New France on Screen: Encounters with History

1) Black Robe (1991) -- The Clash of Faith and Civilization

This film is set in New France in 1634. It tells the story of a young priest, Paul, who journeys into the wilderness along the St. Lawrence River.

Historical elements the film portrays:

The real nature of the French-Indigenous alliance
Fur traders traveling by canoe
France's efforts to spread Christianity while respecting Indigenous culture and spiritual beliefs
Tense relations with the hostile Iroquois Confederacy

What's remarkable about the film is that it rejects the simple narrative of "civilization conquering savagery." Instead, it shows the collision and blending of two civilizations as they actually occurred.

Historical context: Champlain intentionally invited missionaries to New France. This was a strategy not only for religious faith but also for expanding France's cultural influence. This became a critical difference from England's Puritan settlers.

2) The New World (2005) -- The Myth of Discovering America

This film primarily tells the story of Pocahontas, but French exploration was happening simultaneously during the same era.

Points of intersection:

England (Virginia Colony) and France (Canada, Louisiana) were developing North America at the same time
1607 founding of Jamestown vs. 1608 founding of Quebec -- practically the same year
But France's strategy differed from England's (fur trade, cooperation with Indigenous peoples)

3) Barkskins (2020) -- The Golden Age of the 18th-Century Fur Trade

This miniseries begins in the 1690s, when the New France fur trade was at its peak.

Historical moments captured in Barkskins:

The adventures of French fur traders ("coureurs des bois" -- runners of the woods)
Intermarriage between Indigenous women and French men (metissage) -- actual history
The territorial expansion of New France and England's challenge
The shadow of war over territory and fur

The Expansion of French Colonies: An Empire of Dreams

The Territorial Growth of New France

After Champlain founded Quebec, French exploration never stopped.

Major explorations and settlements:

St. Lawrence River Basin (1608-1650)
- Quebec (1608)
- Trois-Rivieres (1634)
- Montreal (1642)
- Fur trade concentrated in this region
Mississippi River Exploration (1673-1682)
- French explorers Jolliet and Marquette explored the Mississippi River
- The great French dream: an empire connecting the north (Canada) and south (Louisiana)
The Founding of Louisiana (1682)
- La Salle reached the lower Mississippi River
- Declared the Louisiana Territory (present-day Louisiana, Mississippi, Illinois, Wisconsin, etc.)
- Named "Louisiana" in honor of the French King Louis XIV

The Maximum Extent of the French Empire

By the early 18th century, the territory of New France included:

North: All of Canada
Central: Around the Great Lakes
South: Down to Louisiana

It was an era when France dreamed of a vast empire.

But England was dreaming the same dream...

The Fateful Showdown: The French and Indian War (1754-1763)

Two Empires Collide

France maintained cooperative relationships with Indigenous peoples, but England rapidly claimed territory through large-scale immigration policies. Eventually, conflict was inevitable.

The French and Indian War:

Proper name: Seven Years' War (North American theater)
Started in 1754, ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1763
France lost Canada
Louisiana was ceded to Spain (1762)
An overwhelming English victory

The Fall of New France

The 1763 Treaty of Paris declared the end of France's North American empire.

But interestingly:

Louisiana returned from Spain to France (1800)
Napoleon sold Louisiana to the United States (1803)
The United States became a great power through this vast territory

A historical irony: On territory built by France, passing through England, it was ultimately America that built an empire.

French Culture That Remains Today

Quebec -- The Soul of France

Present-day Quebec Province, Canada still:

Uses French as its official language
Preserves French cuisine and culture
Maintains a distinct French-Canadian identity
Cultural tensions with English-speaking Canada continue to this day

Louisiana -- Hidden France

In the U.S. state of Louisiana:

New Orleans' Creole culture (a blend of French, African, and Indigenous heritage)
French place names and architecture (the French Quarter)
Cajun cuisine (food of French immigrants)

France Lives On Through Film

Watching Black Robe, The New World, and Barkskins, you come to realize something.

These films are more than just period pieces.

They ask us:

What happens when two civilizations meet?
What does goodwill mean when faith and commerce intersect?
Who does the desire for empire ultimately harm?

Conclusion: France in History

The French first set foot on the American continent with Jacques Cartier in 1534.

They:

Accumulated wealth through the fur trade
Formed alliances with Indigenous peoples
Dreamed of a vast territorial empire

But after 170 years, that dream came to an end.

Yet the legacy of France endures.

Walking the streets of Quebec, listening to Creole music in New Orleans, and through the respectful attitude toward Indigenous culture shown by the priest in Black Robe, we can still encounter New France.

If you happen to watch Black Robe or Barkskins after reading this article, remember that every scene on screen depicts events that actually happened.

History is more dramatic than the movies.

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