1. Colonial Latecomers: French
Source: Jonathan Brown, Latin america
FRENCH not too successful in South America:
French expeditions of the 1500s failed to establish permanent colonies except in marginal areas
Provoked defensive expansion
1540s French sailed Caribbean, intercepting Spanish gold and silver shipments
Invaded port of Havana in 1555

2. French early colonial efforts in the Americas
Traded illegally with Spanish and Portuguese colonies
Spaniards responded to French presence by founding St. Augustine in 1565 to prevent French Protestants from settling in the region
Spanish and native allies fought against the French
Tradition of using indigenous forces in their military fights against European rivals

3. French colonizing efforts in South America?
French entry into Brazil threatening to Portugal
Settled in 1550 – Portuguese could not get rid of them for 15 years
Rio de Janeiro settled as permanent port town, now capital of Brazil
France encouraged attacks against the Portuguese and their allies, the Tupis; but these peoples were nearly wiped out by the combined forces of mixed Portuguese settlers and Tupis.
France had to settle for Guiana in South America between Amazon and Orinoco rivers to the north

4. Colonization in North America & the Caribbean
Late 1500s, French settlers occupied the St. Lawrence Basin in Canada
Fur trade, missionaries traveled the upper Mississippi river area
By 1604, settled Acadia (Nova Scotia) and in 1608, Quebec
By mid-1600s established a Caribbean sugar colony in Saint Dominigue (Western Hispaniola), leading supplier of sugar to Europe
Also settled in Guadeloupe and Martinique, involving French shipping in illegal trade in the colonial period
Contraband goods brought by the French were welcomed by Spanish and Portuguese colonists