Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Both powers coveted the continent, but their models diverged sharply.
| Dimension | New France | British Colonies |
|---|---|---|
| Primary aim | Fur trade (extractive) | Settlement agriculture (permanent) |
| Population (1750) | ~70,000 | ~1.5 million |
| Settlement pattern | Linear along St. Lawrence, Great Lakes, Mississippi | Coastal clusters expanding inland |
| Governance | Royal absolutism (governor, intendant, bishop) | Representative assemblies, local self-rule |
| Native relations | Intermarriage, adoption, missionization, military alliance | Land purchase (often dubious), displacement, warfare |
| Religion | Catholic (Jesuit, Recollet missions) | Protestant diversity (Puritan, Anglican, Quaker) |
| Economy | Mercantilist monopoly (Compagnie des Indes) | Diverse: farming, shipping, crafts, trade |
English demographic weight + naval supremacy → French expulsion 1763. But French legal/cultural imprint survives in Québec, Louisiana, and Métis identity.