1492 – 1734 Early Encounters French Colonies

1. French women were vastly outnumbered by French men in New France, which meant women of all races and classes were afforded legal and social privileges they would not have had in traditional French society.

2. The labor and collaboration of Native women was critical to the survival of New France.

3. The Catholic Church played a significant role in the colonization of the Native people who inhabited the territory claimed