“The French have settled themselves in the heart of the country, along the great rivers... they trade with the natives for furs, and live among them in a friendly manner, without taking their lands or driving them away, unlike the English who clear the forests for their own farms.”
—Adapted from a report by a British observer on French colonial activities, 1715
Based on the passage, which of the following represents a primary characteristic of the French colonization model in North America?
- Relying on commercial alliances and intermarriage with Native Americans to secure trade networksAnswer
- BEstablishing family-based, religiously uniform agricultural towns that excluded native populations
- CEncouraging unrestricted free trade between colonists and foreign nations to bypass the mother country��s mercantilist policies
- DRelying on contract-based indentured servants who automatically transitioned to lifelong, hereditary chattel slavery
Answer
Relying on commercial alliances and intermarriage with Native Americans to secure trade networks
The correct answer is correct because the French colonization model relied on establishing trade networks (especially for furs) and building alliances through diplomatic ties and intermarriage with Native American populations, rather than seizing large amounts of land for agriculture.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The French colonization model relied on trade alliances and intermarriage with Native Americans to secure fur trading networks, contrasting with the land-intensive agricultural model of the British.
Estimated Time:45s