Question
The large scale settlement of North America by Europeans began in the seventeenth
century. France took the early lead in the contest for the temperate regions of North
America. In 1608, the first permanent French colony was established at Quebec. In 1682,
La Salle explored the Mississippi River and claimed the entire river system for France.
But despite these early successes, there were never enough French settlers to make French
North America a large center of population.
The Dutch under Henry Hudson explored the eastern coast of the continent and claimed
a large area, including the river that was named after him. The Dutch colony of New
Netherlands started with a few trading posts on the Hudson River, where New York City is
now located, and expanded into enterprises in New Jersey, Delaware and Connecticut. The
Dutch settlements suffered a lot of competition from the English, and eventually, the Dutch
governor was forced to surrender all Dutch lands to the English.
England's commercial and political growth at home soon gave it the lead in the colonial
race, but this success came only after some early losses, such as the failed colony on
Roanoke Island. The first success for England was in 1607 at Jamestown. There were also
permanent colonies farther north, in the area known as New England.
The colonies of North America grew dramatically beyond the first settlements at
Quebec and Jamestown. Population figures for the seventeenth century show that in 1625
there were around $00 settlers in French Canada and 200 in Dutch settlements, but there
were 2,000 in the English colonies. Fifty years later, the English had absorbed the Dutch
colonies. By 1700, New France had around 20,000 people, but the English colonies had
a quarter of a million.
The European conquest of North America contributed to international conflict. In the
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the European powers fought several wars in North
America. Most of these conflicts were extensions of wars taking place in Europe at the
same time, but some were started by the colonists themselves. The conflicts especially
those between England and France were mostly over commercial interests and signaled
the intense rivalry for control of North American land and resources.
5. What can be inferred from paragraph I about
the French settlement of North America in the
seventeenth century?
© The French were more successful than
any other European nation at the time.
(e) French settlement never extended beyond
the original colony at Quebec.
(c The French settled North America in
order to control international trade.
(p) The French colonies had fewer people
than did other North American colonies.
6. Why does the author use the word race in
paragraph 3?
© To emphasize the competition among
European groups
(B To trace the origin of a popular sport in
North America
(C To show that failure comes more quickly
than success
(D) To describe the ethnic differences
among Europeans
READING
Answer
To emphasize the competition among European groups