Earlier Permanent Settlement of New France

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Though Cartier reached North America in 1534, the first permanent settlements were not built in New France until seventy years later, and even then these were small trading posts. The real settlement of New France would not begin until 1663 and this was short-lived, with few immigrants arriving after 1680.

So assuming the relations with the Iroquois and French remain better at first and a permanent settlement can remain, French settlement can begin in earnest. French North America had an incredibly high-birthrate along with a much lower mortality rate than France, coupled with earlier settlement, it's probable the colony could have been more of a match against the English.

1541 - Charlesbourg-Royal (present day Cap-Rouge near Quebec City) is founded with 1,500 men.

1542 -Jean-François Roberval arrives at Charlesbourg-Royal with an additional 500 settlers.

1543 - Due to the harsh conditions of the new colony, many settlers decide to return to France, however an additional 800 settlers arrive and a colony is founded on Ile aux Coudres.

1545 - French Settlements in North America have 2,015 people including 800 women.

1546-47 - King Francis has an additional 1,200 settlers arrive from France, many of these are young single women, others are craftsmen and clergy.

1548-49 -The Iroquois blame the French and especially the French missionaries for their increasing deaths (brought about by disease). After increasing Iroquois attacks, King Henry II is forced to send a contingent of 1,000 French soldiers (including engineers) to build up defences in Charlesbourg-Royal. Along with these are 400 indentured servants and 770 young single women of humble birth aged 16-25.

1551-1559 - Distracted by the Italian Wars, the colony of New France is left to it's own devices. On their own, the settlers have begun to farm along the Saint-Lawrence River and have colonised the Ile d'Orleans named after Henry II when he was still Duc d'Orleans.

1560 - New France now has 5,763 French settlers along with 420 Indian converts living in French villages.

1563 - Charles IX bans Protestant settlement in New France and in response, the Hugenots attempt to found colonies in Brazil, Florida and South Carolina. Also, an additional 250 Catholic missionaries are dispatched to the New World.

1564 - With peace restored in France an additional 400 settlers are recruited in Normandy and Aunis to settle in what is now Quebec.

1565 - The population of New France now stands at 6,782 with an additional 583 Indian converts living in the French settlements.

1566 - An additional 382 young women are sent from Paris, most of these are of humble origins and some as young as 14. They are sent to be wives for French farmers in the New World.

1566-1570 Again distracted by war, France pays little attention to New France. However, with an abundance of land, no famines and a fertility rate 1/3 higher than France's the population grows. Most of the people are farmers, however some craftsmen and there are also French officers and clergy.

1570 - The French population of the colony now numbers 7,832 along with an additional 853 Indian converts living in the French villages.

1588 - Jacques Noël, nepehw of Jacques Cartier arrives in New France as Vice-Roi, appointed by Henry III. He has 1,200 additional colonists recruited from Brittany, Poitou and Maine in 1588-1589.

1590 - The French population of New France now numbers 12,835.

1595 - King Henry IV has a 700 Basques from coastal regions of the Kingdom of Navarre establish a permanent settlement at Plaisance (Placentia) in Newfoundland. They are to be cod fisherman and will provide New France along with France with dried cod.

1595-1600 - An additional 4,000 of settlers are recruited the Paris region to settle along the Saint Lawrence River. Many of these are poor and some are petty criminals. Their questionable reputation makes many settle further West of Montreal, and many become fur traders. Also, in 1600 the settlement of Tadoussac is founded with many of these individuals.

1598 - The first settlement in established in Acadia (l'Acadie) by Marquis de La-Roche-Mesgouez with 354 convicts and women of ill repute. The site of settlement is Ile du Sable (Sable Island). The colony would have starved during the winter had it not been for the cod fisherman from Plaisance, in 1599 the 321 survivors are relocated to mainland Acadia.

1600 - By 1600 the French population in the New World numbers 22,827.

1600-1605 The fur trade is growing and attracts around 1,000 Frenchmen to become "coureur du bois" and begin trading with the Indians in the inland areas of North America. Many trade European goods for beaver pelts. The French government attempts to outlaw the practice as it attempts to have a monopoly over the fur trade, but they are unsuccessful in doing so. By 1620, they have reached Lake Huron.

1604 - Pierre Dugua establishes a settlement at Ile-Saint-Croix with 758 settlers from Maine in France. However, this colony does poorly its first year and most would have perished had it not been for the provisions sent from Newfoundland. In 1605, the settlers relocated further up along the Saint Croix River near present-day Saint Stephen, NB.

1605 -Jesuit Colony is founded at Saint Sauveur (Mount Desert Island in Maine). Also, Port-Royal is founded in Acadia with 441 settlers. It is hoped that Port-Royal will become a major harbour for French naval ships.

1605 - The population of the French New World numbers 28,442. This includes 1,020 in Newfoundland, 819 in Acadia and 763 in Maine.
 
interesting, but your initial premise may be a bit off on the dates of colonization of Quebec. the earliest record for my own family in Quebec is 1617, a marriage record between Guillaume Couillard and Guillaumette Hebert.

That said...I am very interested to see where this goes.
 
interesting, but your initial premise may be a bit off on the dates of colonization of Quebec. the earliest record for my own family in Quebec is 1617, a marriage record between Guillaume Couillard and Guillaumette Hebert.

That said...I am very interested to see where this goes.

In OTL there were French living in New France post 1604, but by 1629 for instance there were only 117 in the entire colony, so your ancestors were one of the first. The majority of settlement took place under Colbert 1663-1680.
 
I should point out, though, that the oldest surviving buildings in Quebec City date to 1637 (the Maison Puiseaux) with the Notre-Dame Basilica-Cathedral founded in 1647. So I would think that there must have been significant settlement at Quebec City before 1660.
 
but by 1629 for instance there were only 117 in the entire colony,

..and these habitants, including Sam Champlain, were taken captive along with the city by a band of Scottish adventurers that year. Quebec was restored to France in 1632
 
I should point out, though, that the oldest surviving buildings in Quebec City date to 1637 (the Maison Puiseaux) with the Notre-Dame Basilica-Cathedral founded in 1647. So I would think that there must have been significant settlement at Quebec City before 1660.

Most of the earlier pre-1660 French were either traders or clergy. One of the raisons d'etre of the colony was to spread the Catholic faith to the Indians. The colony was so small that in 1629 the English attacked and occupied Quebec.

The Catholic Church was an incredible record keeper for the colony and that is why demographic information for New France is so easy to find. By 1640 the French population was 240, and by 1653 it was 2,000. So the Notre-Dame Basilica was built during that period when there was a small spurt of settlement. However, the largest settlement took place after 1663, it was only then that New France got some momentum going.

Keep in mind that large Catholic Churches and convents does not equal a large settler population. This was not dissimilar to Spanish America or the Philippines where large ornate cathedrals and convents were built in places with few Europeans. The Portuguese colonies in Africa and Asia also had large churches with even fewer Europeans. The Catholic Church felt first and foremost that it was important to convert people.
 
Part II 1605-1630

As noted earlier, in OTL the English sacked and captured Quebec in 1629 even though peace between England and France had already been proclaimed. In this TL, New France has nearly 100,000 French by 1629 and Quebec wouldn't be an easy target.

1603 – 237 Basques from Bayonne establish a settlement at Port-aux-Basques in Western Newfoundland. The settlement thrives on providing dried salted cod and cod oil to the growing French settlements in Acadia and along the Saint Lawrence River. Dried cod becomes an important stable for the colonists, especially during the winter months.

1605 – Establishment of Port Rossiggnol in Acadia (Liverpool, NS) with 389 Normans from Le Havre. Also, Grand Pré is founded with 136 settlers from Roeun. The first windmills are built in Acadia and this area becomes the breadbasket of the colony.

1605-06 – A mild winter in North America ensures a successful first year for the new settlements in Acadia.

1606 – 79 Norman settlers arrive in Acadia and plant the first apple orchards on the island.

1607 – An Additional 750 Basques, Bretons and Normans settle in Newfoundland to dedicate themselves to the thriving cod trade. Some become farmers to assist the colony. The first settlement on the island of Saint-Pierre with 71 fishermen and their families is established.

1608 – A ship carrying 308 French settlers from Paris arrives in Quebec City, most of them are young women whose passage is sponsored by the French crown. Also, 76 Basques arrive in the bustling fur trading town of Tadoussac.

1609 – 1,400 Settlers from Brittany arrive in Acadia and settle Ile Royale (Cape Breton Island) and Isle-Saint-Jean (PEI).

1609 – A French trading post is established on Lake Champlain with 36 Frenchmen and 18 metis.

1610 – Jesuits arrive in Maine and bring the first apple trees to that area during 1611-1613.

1610 – John Guy founds colony at Conception Bay in Newfoundland, though the colony is small with fewer than 50 Englishmen and it is subsequently abandoned.

1610 – Tadoussac has become a bustling trading centre with over 2,000 people, around 1/3 are Indian and Metis.

1612 - First French Settlement on Lake Huron with 60 settlers. Charles de Biencourt expels the Jesuits from Acadia, driving them into Maine. Settlement founded in Lake Huron.

1613 - The population of Port Royal is 680, a fortified town withstands English attack on Port Royal led by Samuel Argall of Virginia. However, he does take 20 Jesuits from Saint Sauveur on (Mount Desert Island, ME) captive. The first masonry fortifications are built.

1614 – French raid on the English colony at Conception Bay in Newfoundland, burning the settlement and taking 30 captives to Port Royal. Also, in response to English encroachment, 3,500 French soldiers and officers are sent to the New France with the responsibility of building forts in Acadia and Maine. Most will marry and settle permanently in the colony.

1615 – Fur trading post established at Trois-Rivières with 57 Frenchmen.

1615 – The European population of New France numbers 45,655, of these 1,957 can be found in Newfoundland and Saint-Piere another 5,109 in Acadia (inlcluding Saint-Jean Island) and another 3,037 in Maine.

1615-1630 – The fur trade booms with over 5,000 French men arriving in the colony hoping to make money on the fur trade. Many settle with the Huron and take Huron wives, though they often come into conflict with the Jesuits in the area. Also during this period, the French Crown settles 1,700 orphans between the ages of 12-18 in the colony, many will work as servants initially.

1618 - l'Île-aux-Allumettes is settled by Jesuits as a mission in Huron country.

1620 - Fort Lomeron is founded on Cape de Sable (Cape Sable, NS) is founded by Charles de la Tour with settlers from Port Royal.

1620-25 An additional 1,850 colonists arrive in Quebec, mostly from Rouen.

1622 - 150 settlers from Amiens arrive in Tadoussac.

1624 - Cardinal Richileu sends 1,400 settlers to Maine to counter English settlement in the area. Huguenots and foreigners are banned from New France. Settlement of Agamenticus (York, ME) founded by Robert Gorges

1627-1629 - Anglo-French War.
As a result of the conflict, in July of 1628 the French sack raid the Plymouth Bay Colony, burning the settlement and forcing most of the 120 surviving Purtian settlers to take refuge inland. However, with word of peace in 1630, the French return the English prisoners.

1628-1629 – With a famine in France, word spreads of the abundance of land and food in New France and over 4,000 settlers are sponsored by religious orders to settle in New France. Most are settled on Jesuit Seigneuries in Huron Country. Religious orders are in control of nearly half of the seigneuries in the colony.

1630 – The European population of New France numbers 97,898. Quebec is a city of 8,000 and Montreal now has 6,000 inhabitants. In contrast, the English colonies have a total of 4,600 European settlers that year, with over half being in Jamestown.

1630 - The farming settlements between Quebec and Montreal have become too crowded with narrow strips of land along the St. Lawrence now subdivided to the point where in some areas houses are only 3 metres apart. New seigneuries are granted by the crown in Maine along the Saint-Jean River and north of Lake Ontario. This will bring the French in direct conflict with the Iroquois.
 
Here's an idea: make New France the dumping ground for the Huguenots.

That will be...interesting.

The French government consistently banned Protestants from New France, along with foreigners. It was not until 1721 that Catholic Germans were settled in a small number in Lousiana (in today what is aptly named Des Allemands).

Initially, New France was to be exploited for material wealth, but part of the French mandate during the fervour of the Counter-Reformation was to convert the natives to Catholicism. This was not unlike the Spanish colonies and I wanted to explore the effect this would have on a larger part of the continent.

Catholic New France had an extremely high fertility rate in part due to the influence of Roman Catholic church and its control over social life and education in the colony. The church is important, because each church became the centre of social life for each parish. Also, the priest played the preeminent social role, with the rectory being a social gathering place for villagers. The Roman Catholic Church controlled education in Quebec until the early 1960s, and education was not as important as in the British colonies. Interestingly, literacy levels fell with the arrival in the New World, most people being farmers did not need how to read or write and by 1765 only 1/3 of the colonists could sign their own name. Had a Protestant colony developed, the role of reading the bible would have been much more important and literacy would have most likely been promoted.

One of the main reasons New France failed was that it had too few French at the time of conquest compared to the English colonies (70,000 French in 1765 compared to 1 million English). However, based on the birthrate once the small colony actually got going, it is interesting to speculate what if the original 16th century colonies had survived? In OTL around 15,000 French settled in the New World and I mentioned most did so from 1660 to 1680, a few before and a few after. However, these 15,000 French settlers spawned the 8-9 million Canadians of French ancestry in Canada and the vast majority of the 11.8 million Americans with French ancestry. Had even the original small settlements survived in the 16th century, their numbers would be much greater.

It is interesting to note that New England had a similarly high birthrate and rate of growth between 1620-1750. However, by the 1750s there is evidence of the beginning of birth control methods being used in New England. By the 1860s with industrialization the larger decline happened in Anglo-America. Among French Canadians, the high birthrate would continue until the early 1960s, nearly a century after the decline in the rest of the western world and 150 years after their mother country's demographic transition. As late as 1901, the average rural French Canadian family had 7.8 children.

To offer some background regarding New France's high (and Acadia's even higher) birthrates I did some research in university some years back.

In New France, the vast majority of people were farmers who lived off the land called "habitants" on a seigneurie. Though sharing some similarities to the feudal system, the average seigneurie was much larger than a peasant's typical land holding in medieval Europe. The typical seigneurie was 90 arpents (roughly 76 acres) most had access to the St Lawrence river (as canoes provided the main form of transport) and unlike feudal lands in Europe, they would be passed directly to the habitant's heirs, but the habitant could sell his land as he pleased.

Unlike in Europe, the payments to the seigneur were relatively small. Typically to the the annual payments consited of 2 1/4 minots (2 1/4 bushels) of wheat, 4 1/2 livres and 1 day's worth of work (usually for road building). In return, the seigneur provided common grazing land and a mill to grind wheat into flour (1 1/14th of flour went to the seigneur). Half of the seigneuries were owned by the church or religious orders, however seigneuries could be bought and sold (with the seigneur collecting a small title transfer tax). However, the wealth generated from them was never great enough to make them as wealthy as aristocrats in France.

In contrast, the Acadians who settled on the Bay of Fundy worked collectively to build dikes along the fertile but marshy land. Of course this required a great amount of work and vigilance, but it meant that larger families were needed. The farms in French North America were for the most part self-sufficient and provided amply for the families who lived on them. In this part of Acadia, seigneuries failed to develop.

In both patterns of settlement, food was abundant. Even during years of crop failure, fish was abundant as was wild game and fruits, something not available in Europe during famines. Famine was unheard of in the French New World. Also, because people didn't live in crowded quarters disease was far less of a threat. This is evidenced by the long lifespan for the time where the typical male farmer lived 64 years of age. For officers the average age of death was 72.7 years.

Finally, the long winters played a part in shaping New France. Unlike in the Southern British colonies, the winters generally killed off diseases. However, from October to May there was little for habitants to do but cut wood. With a young marrying age of 18-19 for women, it was noted that the typical woman in New France or Acadia bore 30% more children than her contemporaries in Europe meaning that the typical family had 8 children survive into adulthood, among the officer class it was 11. The 3,018 men in the colony in 1660, fathered 23,668 children.

Below is a crude diagram of a seigneurial system.

950px-Seigneurial_system.svg.png
 
1630-1650 War with the Iroquois

With the establishment of Fort Orange in 1624 (Albany, NY), the Dutch West India Company had become a serious competitor to the French fur trade. Built in what was originally Mohegan territory, the latter had been pushed west of the Hudson River by the Mohawks. In 1624, the WIC had exported 4,000 beaver pelts, but by 1630 this number had reached 6,041 and by 1635 their number would peak at 14,891 pelts. The Dutch relied on the Mohawks and other members of the Iroquois Confederation to provide beaver and otter pelts in return for European goods, especially muskets and gunpowder. They were now cooperating with the Iroquois Confederation, traditional enemies of the Hurons and Algonquins who were allies of the French.

Since the 1620s, the French had held an uneasy truce with the Mohawks, but in 1632 the Mohawk attacks on the Hurons began. The French for their part had begun settling in Huronia with settlers and the Jesuits had been successful in converting many of the estimated 10,000 Hurons to Christianity and were now active in the Iroquois Confederation where they were less successful.

In 1633, attacks continue on the Hurons by the Mohawks using Dutch firearms. The Mohawk hope to kidnap Hurons and Algonquins into their ranks, also they wish to have access to the beaver pelts in the territory further north (with thicker the undercoat fur). Also in 1633, three French Jesuits are murdered by the Mohawks. In response, the French begin to arm the Hurons and Algonquin.

During the summer of 1635, the French begin to improve their fortifications South of the St. Lawrence River, along Lake Ontario. However, one fort that really angers the Iroquois is Fort Niagara (Buffalo, NY). It is built to keep the Iroquois from entering the area of the Neutral tribes. The French hope they can keep the Iroquois contained south of Lake Erie.

In 1635, the French Vice-Roi, Samuel de Champlain died and it was up to his successor Charles de Montmagny to broker a peace between the Iroquois and French Indian Allies the next year.However, the peace was not to last as the beaver population in Iroquois territory declined due to over killing. By 1640, there were hardly any beavers left in the Iroquois Confederation. In 1641, the Mohawks decided to invade Huronia.

During the summer of 1641, Mohawk raids into Huronia had killed or captured nearly half of the Huron population. In 1642, the Hurons persuade the Seneca to join them in attacking the Hurons, further depleting the numbers of Hurons. By this time a force of 2,000 Iroquois warriors is creating havoc in the Great Lakes region. Also, the Iroquois decide to attack the neutral tribes and march into their territory.

By this time, nearly 5,000 French settlers have poured into the region between Lake Ontario and Lake Huron and in the July of 1642 a French family is attacked with a mother and two children murdered by the Iroquois. News reaches Quebec and Montreal and a military force of 5,300 is sent into Mohawk Country. In addition, a militia of 300 French settlers is organized in Huronia.

From Quebec City, the French forces march into the Mohawk nation and destroy and burn entire villages. Mohawk women and children are captured and some 500 are taken into captivity. The French employ a scorched earth policy, burning villages and any crops they could take back to Quebec. This action took the Mohawks by surprise, as such heavy handed tactics had not been used before. In the place of every destroyed village, a cross was erected. The French military would continue to sweep the region until October of 1642. Because of the lack of food, the Mohawk fled to the West into Seneca and Erie territory as their villages had been destroyed during the winter. By the spring of 1643, the Iroquois Confederation sued for peace.

The peace terms were as follows:
The Iroquois were to allow the French to place French-speaking traders as well as Jesuits in Iroquois villages. To ensure their security, each village was required to send two members of a leading family to live in the St. Lawrence valley. Also, the Mohawk lands were now opened to French settlement. However, most Mohawk moved further West.

With the westward movement, in 1644-45 the Mohawk sought to expand at the cost of the Erie and Wenro tribes by kidnapping members of these tribes into their ranks and killing those who wouldn't. The Seneca soon joined the Mohawk and in 1646 the Oneida and Onondaga did too. Having few firearms, the Erie and Wenro proved easy targets. By 1650, they had been destroyed as a people and their survivors were absorbed into the Iroquois Confederation (especially the Seneca).

After taking over the Erie, the Iroquois Confederation turned their attention to the Neutral Indians, north of lake Erie. Within a few short years, they had annihilated this tribe too. However, with the French settlers and Jesuits beginning to move into this area, the Iroquois victory would be short-lived. They would turn their attention southward into what is now Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.

During the 1630-1650 period, an additional 7,208 French settlers arrive in New France. With around 2/3 coming from Atlantic France especially from Poitou and Aunis, but also Normandie, Bretagne and Guyenne. The rest are mostly from Paris, Anjou, Maine and the city of Dijon in Bourgogne. Two cities that provides a disproportionately large number of settlers are La Rochelle Saint-Malo in Brittany.

The population of French of French North America is:
1640 129,756
1650 170,730

British North America's Population (including slaves)
1640 24,000
1650 46,000

Population of Dutch North American Colonies
1640 2,000
1650 4,300
 
Map of North America 1660

Here is a map showing the political situation c1660.

Americas 1660.png

The purple represents French controlled territory. The French have fully settled Huronia and the former netural (Wenro) territory. This area has been colonised by settlers pouring out of the Saint Lawrence River Valley. Also, since 1634 they have established Jesuit Missions and trading posts along Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. The largest posts are Sault Sainte-Marie (founded in 1641). However, the missions and trading posts stretch down all the way to Mission de l'Ange Gardien in Chécagou (Chicago) which was founded in 1658-59. The Western most trading post has been also been founded by Daniel Greysoon, Sieur du Lhut in 1660 (Duluth, MN).

The red outline represents the lands inhabited by the Iroquois Nations. With the defeat of the Mohawk by the French, they have pushed their control further south and west, defeating other tribes due to their superior firepower. However, the French Jesuits setup missions amongst the northern villages of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga and Seneca. The most important mission is Sainte-Marie de Gannentha founded in 1656 (Syracuse, NY). Former Mohawk lands (present day NY west of the Hudson) have been settled by French settlers.

Between 1654-57 a small pox pandemic ravages the Iroquois. The Jesuits insist on baptizing afflicted babies. Since they usually die afterwards, the Iroquois begin blaming the deaths on the Jesuits black magic. This will lead to renewed tensions between the Iroquois and French. However, by 1660 the Iroquois population is reduced to 25,000. Though no longer a match for the French, they will be able to expand their territory at the expense of other tribes for the next 40 years.

The pink on the map represents the growing English colonies and the orange the Dutch New Netherlands which have just absorbed New Sweden. However, the Dutch colony will soon be absorbed by the English.

During the 1650s the French colonies gained a new of 4,808 Immigrants. Most of these settled in the fertile lands North of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

New France European Population 1660
Along the St. Lawrence River 133,600
Acadia 29,659
Huronia and North of Great Lakes 24,806
Maine 11,605
Newfoundland (Including Saint Pierre) 9,411
Former Mohawk Lands 6,895
Eastern Great Lakes 2,474
Other Mohawk Lands 1,718
Other: 700
TOTAL: 220,868

British Colonies
New England 33,136
Mid-Atlantic 34,446
TOTAL 69,582

New Netherlands
TOTAL: 5,500

Americas 1660.png
 
1661 - Despite objections from the Jesuits, restrictions are removed from the brandy trade with the Indians. A keg of brandy costs 200 livres and with that a French coureur de bois can obtain 15,000 livres worth of beaver pelts. The next twenty years will be the peak of the fur trade in New France. The supply of beaver furs having been exhausted in the Saint Lawrence Valley since the 1640s, moves men further west and north.

1662 - 3,777 Settlers arrive in New France, with most of them being women. This is one of the largest totals in a single year.

1663-1673 - Louis XIV seeks to populate French America and sponsors women from France to settle in the New World, offering to pay their dowries. A total of 8,528 will be settled. Nearly half are from Paris, 1/5th from Normandy, 1/10th from Aunis and the rest from 13 other provinces in France. Many are as young as 12 years old. They are supposed to be girls of good character, most a poor and orphaned, but some are prostitutes gathered from the streets of Paris and in reality few will receive a dowry from the king.

1664 - With continuing attacks by Iroquois against French border settlements, the King agrees that the Iroquois but me destroyed. He decides to send a professional regiment to New France to take care of the Iroquois menace once and for all.

1664 - The French successfully repulse a Dutch attack on Saint-Jean in Newfoundland. (St. John's).


1664 - In September, the English capture New Amsterdam and Fort Orange from the Dutch. This will change the power dynamic of North America.

1665 - June-September, the Carignan-Salières regiment arrives in Quebec. Consisting of 1,200 men from Piedmont, Sayoy and Liguria in Italy, with a mission to subdue the Iroquois. With the English having captured the Dutch settlements along Hudson River, the French want prevent the Iroquois from allying with the English. Along with an additional force of 2,800 Canadien militia they are sent into Iroquois lands. To their surprise the Iroquois villages have been abandoned. The French purse a scorched earth policy similar to that they employed previously and build forts in the area. During the winter of 1665-66 many Iroquois die of starvation. However, they are still a strong enough force to move further west displacing the Miami and Shawnee tribe (some seek refuge further North around Detroit). The Shawnee are forced to become tributes of the Iroquois.

1665 - In July - Jean Talon arrives in New France as the new Viceroy of the Colony. He is selected by Louis XIV to reorganize the colony and expand French settlement. With him arrives 400 additional soldiers and a ship full of mares and stallions from the royal stables in Quebec. More will arrive until 1670 and these will become the Canadian breed.

1665 - In October ships from Normandie arrive with 1,300 men and 820 girls (most of the girls are from charitable institutions). These are settled in Acadia.

1665-1667 - The French crown sponsors the settlement of 358 skilled craftsmen in New France, most of these are carpenters.

1666 - In May the Seneca sue for peace and in June the Oneidas follow. The Mohawk have fled further west as their lands have been taken over by the French. Within four years the majority of the Iroquois will be gone from what is today NY state.

1667 - Iron Ore mining begins in Trois Rivières, the first iron works soon follow.

1667 - Jean Talon encourages shipbuilding and ships are soon constructed in both Acadia and Quebec.

1667 - La Baye (Green Bay, WI) is founded a settlement.

1668 - Taking advantage of the abundant grain production in New France, the first beer breweries are established in Montreal. However, French wine continues to be a major import from France.

1668 - The French crown introduces a baby bonus for any family with 10 legitimate children of 300 livres, 12 or more is 400 livres. This encourages many of the large families to have even larger amounts of children.

1668-1673 -The first British trading posts are established in the Hudson Bay. Fort Rupert (Northern Quebec) is the first. Moose Factory (Manitoba) lies furthest west.

1670 - Detroit is founded. The French invite Potawotomi, Miami, Ojibwa, Ottawa and Huron Indians to trade with them. This leads to a direct conflict with the Sauk and Fox. The French will battle against the Fox and Sauk for the next years until they are defeated and the Fox are almost erradicated, the survivors join with the Sauk and move West to the Great Plains.

1670 - The French crown begins offering monetary compensation to men who marry before the age of 20 and also to girls who marry before reaching the age of 16.

1673 - The last "filles du roi" arrive in New France as the French government does not wish to support more settlers. Many of these girls were very young and not prepared for farming life as most were city dwellers in France.

1675 - Over 50,000 French settlers live along the Great Lakes region. This population will continue to grow.

1680 - Fort Saint-Paul is established (Saint Paul, MN) as is Fort Crèvecœur (Peoria, IL) and Fort Miami (Toledo, OH).

1682 - The French establish Fort Prudhomme (Memphis, TN).

1682 - April 9 - LaSalle erects a cross in Louisiana claiming the territory for France. In September 320 Canadiens are sent to found the first settlement of Fort Saint-louis in what is now Navosta, Texas.

1685 - The beaver trade reaches its zenith. Fort Kaministiquia is established (Thunder Bay, ONT)

New France Population 1685
Saint Lawrence River 244,196
Great Lakes Region 88,277
Acadia (including Maine) 85,722
Former Iroquois Lands 40,288
Newfoundland 20,195
TOTAL: 478,678

The population of largest cities is
Quebec 14,807
Montreal 12,061


British Colonies 180,000 (including 3,500 African slaves)
 
Man, New france has a massive pop. But I can't help but think that their cities are smaller than they should be (or maybe I don't know what I'm talking about) but ITTL their will be no english conquest of New France, that's for sure. Perhaps it'll be that the smaller pop. english colonies will be far more educated and be far more urbanized than their new France rivals.
 
Man, New france has a massive pop. But I can't help but think that their cities are smaller than they should be (or maybe I don't know what I'm talking about) but ITTL their will be no english conquest of New France, that's for sure. Perhaps it'll be that the smaller pop. english colonies will be far more educated and be far more urbanized than their new France rivals.

I based my figures on actual natural growth, the church kept very good census figures, by the 17th century New France had perhaps the highest population growth in the world (despite its small size).

The cities are small because there there in terms of manufacturing or even commerce. New France is mostly a land of self-sufficient farmers and fur traders with little industry. Because in this TL there are more people, their settlements will continue to grow across the continent. There are many more small towns (1-3,000 inhabitants). The larger cities are inhabited mostly by the elite, tradespeople and clergy (large ecclesiastical orders). Formal education was not seen something that was necessary to be a farmer, and therefore literacy fell with the generations in New France. In many ways New France resembled mediaeval Europe, but with an abundance of land and resources so that the population was materially comfortable.

The English colonies are definitely more educated and most homes have bibles and books and there are newspapers published in the colonies. This will allow industry and trades to flourish in the British colonies. In New France perhaps 15% of males are literate and less than that for females. In Acadia and Newfoundland that figure drops to 5%. In New England that figure was around 70%. The few schools that exist are controlled by religious orders and are usually for the sons and daughters of the seigneurs and civil servants.

One place the French are more skilful than their English counterparts is at warfare. Most French male habitants tended to be skilled with a gun and knowledgeable of the frontier regions, this mainly because fur trapping during the winter was one of their few options for disposable income. Even as late as the French-Indian war the vastly outnumbered French and their Indian allied performed much better than the English colonists on the battlefield.
 
I based my figures on actual natural growth, the church kept very good census figures, by the 17th century New France had perhaps the highest population growth in the world (despite its small size).

The cities are small because there there in terms of manufacturing or even commerce. New France is mostly a land of self-sufficient farmers and fur traders with little industry. Because in this TL there are more people, their settlements will continue to grow across the continent. There are many more small towns (1-3,000 inhabitants). The larger cities are inhabited mostly by the elite, tradespeople and clergy (large ecclesiastical orders). Formal education was not seen something that was necessary to be a farmer, and therefore literacy fell with the generations in New France. In many ways New France resembled mediaeval Europe, but with an abundance of land and resources so that the population was materially comfortable.

The English colonies are definitely more educated and most homes have bibles and books and there are newspapers published in the colonies. This will allow industry and trades to flourish in the British colonies. In New France perhaps 15% of males are literate and less than that for females. In Acadia and Newfoundland that figure drops to 5%. In New England that figure was around 70%. The few schools that exist are controlled by religious orders and are usually for the sons and daughters of the seigneurs and civil servants.

One place the French are more skilful than their English counterparts is at warfare. Most French male habitants tended to be skilled with a gun and knowledgeable of the frontier regions, this mainly because fur trapping during the winter was one of their few options for disposable income. Even as late as the French-Indian war the vastly outnumbered French and their Indian allied performed much better than the English colonists on the battlefield.
Yeah, so New France will be the less educated and more backwards rival to the English colonies. With them having their main advantage be a massive pop. and skill at war. This'll be interesting to watch.
 
King William's War

1680 – Compagnie Française de la Baie d’Hudson (French Company of the Hudson Bay) or Compagnie du Nord (Company of the North is founded). Their mission is to take control of the Hudson Bay and to counter the English in the region.

1686 – Arkansas Post is founded (Gillett, Arkansas). This is the southern most French settlement by 1698.

1686 June/July – Though England and France are at peace, a plan is formulated to dislodge the English from the Hudson Bay. To that end, 130 French professional soldiers and 170 Canadiens under the leadership of Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville leave from Montreal capture Moose Factory renaming it Fort Monsoni. Fort Charles (Waskaganish, Que) is captured and renamed Fort Saint Jacques. Finally, they capture Fort Quichichouane and it is renamed Fort Sainte-Anne.

1687-1689 – Fortifications are constructed on Newfoundland with Fort Royal around Plaisance being the most prominent stone and mortar fort. Additional fortifications are built in Acadia and along the English border.

1690-1691 – During King William’s War the French and their Mi’kmaq allies attack English settlements in present-day Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. All English settlements in New Hampshire and Maine have been destroyed by 1691, including Haverhill (Massachusetts) and Fort Loyal (Falmouth, Maine).

In February of 1690, the French capture and destroy Schenectady and Fort Albany. In October of that year, the English under John Schuyler attempt to attack French settlements, but are repulsed and Schuyler is killed. The English are forced to retreat to New York.

1691-1692 – A plague of caterpillars destroys most of the crops in the Saint Lawrence River valley. The abundant grain supplies from other regions allow the Canadiens to avert famine. However, many of the habitants decide to move to the already established Great Lakes Region (Michigan). Though most move south (Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky), these regions have been depopulated since the 1650s due to disease and warfare. These areas are formally opened up for settlement by the French crown in 1692. However, with too few people with capital to establish seigneuries, land is granted freehold in plots of 180 arpents.

1694 – The start of tobacco cultivation on the southern banks of the Ohio River, within 10 years this area will become the primary tobacco cultivation region of New France. For the first time in 170 years, the colony will produce a cash crop in major quantities. However, this will also lead to a large number of African slaves being imported into the region. The cultivation of corn and hemp will also be important in this region in addition to the raising of cattle and especially pigs.

1696 – Settlement at Cahokia is founded with 3,000 Canadiens.

1697 – Treaty of Ryswick returns Albany and Schenectady to the English. The border between Acadia and New England is set at the Kennebec River.

1697 September 13, – Pierre Le Moyne d’Ibverville defeats the English Navy in battle and successfully captures York Factory in Hudson Bay, it is renamed Fort Bourbon and a permanent French garrison is established.

1699 April - Fort Maurepas is founded in Bilocci (Biloxi, Mississippi) by Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville. It is the second French attempt at building a colony in the Gulf of Mexico after the failed settlement of Fort Saint Louis in Texas (1686-1688). With Saint-Domingue confirmed as a French possession in 1697, the French are attempting to establish more lucrative colonies.

1700 – Fort L’Huillier founded (Mankato, Minnesota).

European Population of New France 1700
St. Lawrence River Valley: 305,526
Great Lakes Region: 143,960
Acadia (including Maine) 118,115
Former Iroquois Lands & Ohio River Valley 95,121
Newfoundland: 30,392
Louisiana: 780
TOTAL: 694,294

In addition, there are 4,500 African Slaves in the Colony by 1700. There are also around 15,000 Catholic Indians and Métis (mixed French and Indian) living in French settlements.

In the British colonies there are 250,000 inhabitants, of these 17,000 are African slaves.
 
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Have you read the TL Donnacona's Dream?

The author has hinted that New France will survive to the end of the 18th century.
 
Have you read the TL Donnacona's Dream?

The author has hinted that New France will survive to the end of the 18th century.

well, imo Viriato would not be satisfied by making New France survive only till the end of the 1700s at this point- with a large population base, one even larger than that of Britain's, who knows what might come out of this. Maybe we'll see a États-Unis d'Amérique! :D
 
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