Jacques Cartier
By: Ellise and Megan
Starting the search for the Northwest passage
In the early 1500's, France decided to find a short route to the Indies. They called this route the Northwest Passage and in 1534 a Frenchman named Jacques Cartier set off from St. Malo, France, to find the passage. He had 2 ships and on them were a crew of 62 men. When he was all ready, Cartier headed northwest.
Finding land for France
Cartier reached Newfoundland and went around it to Labrador. On land, he found an unclaimed area for France. He called the area New France.
What Cartier did
Finding a river
Cartier was still looking for the Northwest Passage when he can upon a river flowing west from the gulf. He thought it might lead to the Pacific Ocean which might mean the Northwest Passage. But it was almost the end of summer and it would get cold soon so he headed back to France.
heading back to the river
The King of France sent Cartier back to the river in July of 1535. Cartier reached the river, which was later named St. Lawrence River. As he sailed west along the St. Lawrence, the water started to get shallow. He left behind his largest ships and got in smaller boats instead. He ended up in an area no called Montreal and didn't find the Northwest Passage.
Surviving a cold winter
Cartier and a few of his men sailed back to where they had left their ships. The area where their ships were was later named Quebec which is where the spent a long winter. Some of his crew then became ill with scurvy. Cartier found some Indians and they helped him cure the scurvy. The weather warmed and they headed back to France.
Setting up a colony
Later a new French king gave Cartier money to set up a colony in the new country. After he set up the colony it failed because of the freezing weather.