What is New France?

New France was the name given to the French colonial empire in North America from the early 16th to the late 18th centuries. It was established by French explorers and settlers in the early 16th century, beginning with the first permanent European settlement in North America at Quebec City in 1608. The colony grew to include much of the present-day eastern and central Canada, as well as parts of the northern United States.

New France was divided into three main regions: *Canada*, which included the St. Lawrence River Valley and the Great Lakes region; *Acadia*, which included present-day Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Maine; and *Louisiana*, which included the Mississippi River Valley and the Gulf of Mexico region.

The French established a strong economy in New France based on the fur trade, fishing, and agriculture. The colony also became a centre of Catholic missionary activity, and the French played a major role in the spread of Christianity among the indigenous peoples of North America.

New France came into conflict with the British and their Native American allies in several wars, including the French and Indian War (1754-1763). In the Treaty of Paris (1763) that ended the war, France ceded Canada and all its territories east of the Mississippi River to the British.

The French legacy in North America is still evident today in the names of many places, including Quebec, Montreal, Detroit, and New Orleans. The French language is also still spoken by many people in Canada and the United States.