1. The First French Colonies
Lesson 6
Vocabulary
ally
coureurs de bois
import
export
voyageur
What happened when the French settled in America?
Reading Skill
Cause and Effect
Teacher Notes
Essential Question: What happened when the French settled in America?

2. The First French Colonies
Why did the French want to settle in America?
They wanted to expand their fur trade and make money for France.
Teacher Notes
Samuel de Champlain was the first governor of New France.
He established friendly relations with several Native American groups. They became allies.
Native Americans exchanged furs for goods such as guns, knives, and blankets.
Native Americans taught fur traders how to hunt, make canoes from birch bark, and use snowshoes.
*Nicolet was the first European to see Lake Michigan.
* Brule explored four of the Great Lakes.

3. Key terms: Ally- a political and military partner
Coureurs de bios – literally “runners of the woods,” hunters and trappers
Import- to bring in good from another country for sale or use
Export- to send goods to another country
Voyageur- trappers who received permits to trap from the French government