The French Come to Texas Chapter 4, Section 3

Challenges to Spanish Claims England established colonies along the Atlantic coast. France established Quebec in Canada.

René Robert Cavalier, Sieur de La Salle 1682 sailed from Canada, down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico Claimed the ENTIRE Mississippi River, all the rivers that flowed into it, and all the land around it for France. Named it Louisiana in honor of French King Louis XIV. La Salle Louis XIV

LaSalle Claims Mississippi River for France

La Salle’s Proposal Establish a French colony at the mouth of the Mississippi River. Possibly capture silver mines in northern Mexico. Controlling the mouth of the Mississippi River meant controlling the Mississippi River. King Louis XIV agreed. August 1, 1684, 4 ships carrying 280 colonists set sail for Louisiana.

Problems LaSalle was hard to get along with. (very bossy) LaSalle argued with the ship captains. Spanish pirates captured one of the ships. The other 3 ships were separated in a storm. Missed the mouth of the Mississippi and sailed 400 miles off course toward the Texas coast.

LaSalle Lands in Texas Sailed remaining 3 ships toward Matagorda Bay One ship wrecked, losing supplies. Another ship sailed back to France. The 3rd ship, LaBelle, was wrecked on a sandbar.

French Flag Flies Over Texas French colonists built a stockade on the banks of a river and named it Fort St. Louis. They later built huts and a small chapel. LaSalle ordered some colonists to stay and defend the fort while he explored the area. Fort St. Louis

Disaster at Fort St. Louis Overwork Poor food Crops failed Disease struck Fighting with Karankawas By summer of 1686, fewer than 40 of the original 280 settlers were still alive.

LaSalle is Murdered LaSalle took a group and went east looking for the Mississippi River. They wandered into East Texas where members of the expedition refused to continue the search and murdered LaSalle.

Survivors The women, children, and disabled that were left behind at Fort St. Louis were either captured or killed by the Karankawas. 5 of the children were later rescued by the Spanish and raised as servants in the house of the viceroy of Mexico. Six of the colonists with LaSalle eventually made their way back to French Canada.

Spanish Reaction When Spanish officials learned of the French fort in Texas, they FREAKED OUT and sent troops to destroy it. An expedition led by Alonso de León reached Fort St. Louis in 1689 only to find the fort deserted and in ruins.

Importance of LaSalle’s Journeys Established French trade with Native Americans along the Mississippi River Kept up French hope of a colony in Texas Caused the Spanish to be interested in east Texas Later caused the U.S. to claim that Texas was part of the Louisiana Purchase Caused disagreements between Spain and the U.S. about the borders of Texas