French Canadians in NE

The French have a lengthy history on this continent. The French became interested in the "New World" in 1524 when King Francois I sought wealth for his European domain (Brown 19). Expeditions were underwritten by the crown. It was eager to compete with other European powers in search for riches. Included in the early voyages were trips by Frenchman Jacques Cartier. Cartier discovered the Gulf of St. Lawrence in 1534 (Brown 21). He made further excursions toward the heartland of the continent, resulting in vast land claims. Another early visitor to America, Samuel de Champlain, organized colonies on the mouth of the St. Croix River in 1604 and at the present site of Quebec City in 1608 (Brown 78). France quickly spread its influence from Quebec to New Orleans. Though sparsely populated, the land that France claimed was astounding in size. While the English colonies were developing along a strip of the east coast no wider than 210 miles, the French laid claim to much of the territory between the colonies and the Mississippi. Trappers, traders, and e

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The following passage from a sociology book written in 1931 Called An Ethnic Survey Of Woonsocket Rhode Island does a good job of summarizing the French Canadian presence in Woonsocket:

To make clear the fact that Woonsocket is, to a degree rarely matched throughout the United States, a foreign city. The French formed a section of Northbridge called "The Village".

Although there were French-Canadians living in Woonsocket throughout the 17th century, the largest influx of French immigrants came to Woonsocket from Canada after 1830, and then again in 1860 when several of the mill hands were called away to fight in the Civil War (Wessel 216). However, it is important to mention that the first ethnic group that made an impact in New England Mills was the Irish. When the invitation came, to migrate to this land of freedom and opportunity, they responded in constantly increasing numbers. The rural sectors of France provided most of the immigrants. managed the Riverdale and Rockdale mills. They had to attend catholic mass at English speaking parishes until Societe Saint-Jean-Baptiste raised enough money to erect Precieux Sang in 1875. Erected in 1870

· Notre Dame de l'assomption in Millbury, Ma. And often was the case when a New England town would have a distinctive Canadian flavor. The devout Catholicism is evident in American French communities even today. Another early visitor to America, Samuel de Champlain, organized colonies on the mouth of the St.

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