French ExplorationMain Idea: When the French

established a presence in Texas, it forced Spain to renew its interest in

the area.

The French Challenge The French Challenge Spanish ClaimsSpanish Claims

a.a. In the early 1600s, France established the colony of In the early 1600s, France established the colony of Quebec in CanadaQuebec in Canada..

b.b. 16821682i.i. France sent explorer France sent explorer Rene Robert Cavelier Sieur de La SalleRene Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle to challenge Spain’s claims to land in and to challenge Spain’s claims to land in and

around Texas.around Texas.

ii.ii. La Salle was the first La Salle was the first European European to navigate the to navigate the Mississippi Mississippi River to the River to the Gulf of MexicoGulf of Mexico..

iii.iii. He claimed all the land draining into this river for King Louis XIV, naming it He claimed all the land draining into this river for King Louis XIV, naming it LouisianaLouisiana..

iv.iv. He returned to France with plans for He returned to France with plans for a French colony a French colony at the mouth of this river.at the mouth of this river.

Robert La SalleRobert La Salle

WHEN: WHEN: 1678-16871678-1687 COUNTRY: COUNTRY: FRANCEFRANCE

The French Challenge The French Challenge Spanish ClaimsSpanish Claims

c.c. 1684-16851684-1685i.i. He took He took 4 4 ships with 280+ colonists to settle the Louisiana colony.ships with 280+ colonists to settle the Louisiana colony.

ii.ii. One ship was captured by SpanishOne ship was captured by Spanish pirates pirates, while the others were separated in a , while the others were separated in a stormstorm..

iii.iii. As a result, he missed the mouth of the Mississippi River and sailed southwest As a result, he missed the mouth of the Mississippi River and sailed southwest landing ashore at landing ashore at Matagorda Bay, TexasMatagorda Bay, Texas!!

La Salle’s SuccessLa Salle’s Successa.a. La Salle’s Success:La Salle’s Success:

i.i. La Salle built a La Salle built a stockadestockade——an an enclosureenclosure of posts to form a of posts to form a defensedefense, on the banks of a small , on the banks of a small river.river.

ii.ii. This outpost becomes known as This outpost becomes known as FortFort St. LouisSt. Louis..

An Artists’ Drawing of Fort St. LouisAn Artists’ Drawing of Fort St. Louis

La Salle’s FailuresLa Salle’s Failuresb.b. La Salle’s Failures:La Salle’s Failures:

i.i. One ship One ship wreckswrecks upon landing, upon landing, another another leavesleaves, and the last one , and the last one wrecks on a wrecks on a sandbarsandbar——aa ridge of ridge of sand in a river or coastal waters.sand in a river or coastal waters.

ii.ii. Also, in addition to failed crops, Also, in addition to failed crops, colonists are dying from colonists are dying from starvationstarvation, , diseasedisease, and fighting , and fighting with thewith the Karankawa Karankawa natives. natives.

La Salle’s 2La Salle’s 2ndnd Expedition Expeditionc.c. La Salle’s Second ExpeditionLa Salle’s Second Expedition

i.i. In need of help, he leads a small In need of help, he leads a small group to search for the group to search for the Mississippi Mississippi RiverRiver..

ii.ii. His goal is to travel north to His goal is to travel north to Canada Canada and find help at French settlementsand find help at French settlements there.there.

iii.iii. He ventures into He ventures into east Texas east Texas (some (some say near Navasota) and is latersay near Navasota) and is later murdered by his own menmurdered by his own men (they were (they were fed up!)fed up!)

iv.iv. Some of these men made it to Some of these men made it to QuebecQuebec and eventually back to France.and eventually back to France.

La Salle’s RoutesLa Salle’s Routes

La Salle Statues in TexasLa Salle Statues in Texas

Indianola, Texas (near Matagorda Bay)

Navasota, Texas (where they claim he was killed)

What happened to Fort St. What happened to Fort St. Louis?Louis?

d.d. The Fate of Fort St. LouisThe Fate of Fort St. Louisi.i. Overall, the French colony Overall, the French colony failsfails as as

a settlement.a settlement.

ii.ii. Some colonists are Some colonists are taken hostage taken hostage (but later adopted) by the (but later adopted) by the Karankawas, while most are Karankawas, while most are killedkilled..

French Flag Over TexasFrench Flag Over Texase.e. Result of La Salle’s EffortResult of La Salle’s Effort

i.i. The French The French NEVER NEVER successfully successfully settle Texas, but settle Texas, but claim claim it for France it for France anyway!anyway!

ii.ii. La Salle’s efforts shifted the focus of La Salle’s efforts shifted the focus of Spanish interest from Spanish interest from western Texas western Texas to eastern Texasto eastern Texas. New Spain also . New Spain also renewed efforts to explore the renewed efforts to explore the northern northern Gulf shoreGulf shore..

iii.iii. Factoid: Later in 1803, the U.S. Factoid: Later in 1803, the U.S. government tries to claim that government tries to claim that TexasTexas should be part of the “should be part of the “Louisiana Louisiana PurchasePurchase” since it was claimed by ” since it was claimed by France in the late 1600s!France in the late 1600s!