Descending From France

By: James H. Viox

The French first came to North America in 1534. The King of France at the time sent Jacques Cartier to look for a trading passage that linked the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, and next set up the first French colony in the Americas led by Samuel de Champlain. Today there are more than 11 million people of French descent living in North America.

The French brought several possessions to the Americas that are still used today. One of the items they brought is their language; an estimated 500,000 people speak French in the U.S. today. They also brought their knowledge of education and art which we still use in our own education system.
They brought over their culinary ideas which are a huge success in America; these foods include fries, bread, different types of soups and desserts, and crepes. All these foods can be found in a local grocery store or restaurant. They brought their strong Roman Catholic views and religion over as well.

French Culture also plays very big roles in art, fashion, and sports. Gothic art first originated in France. The Louvre museum, located in France, is one of the biggest museums in the world and is home to famous Mona Lisa painted by Leonardo Da Vinci and also the famous sculpture Venus de Milo. French culture also plays a huge role in fashion. Several designer fashion companies’ headquarters are located in Milan, Paris, and London. These companies include Chanel and Louie Vuitton. Sports are also another area where French culture can be found. They host several iconic sporting events including the annual Tour de France, the tennis Grand Slam tournament the French Open. Parkour; a sport similar to martial arts was also developed in France and is played in the U.S.

Altogether, France roots and the French culture played as a big influence in a lot of the areas we interact with every day. They influenced part of our culture and are still influencing us every day by having descendants that live here to carry on their religion, education, food, and fashion.