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WorksheetsThe French In Illinois
Total questions: 65
Worksheet time: 33mins
Who were the first Europeans to explore the area known as the "Illinois Country"?
Christopher Columbus and Hernán Cortés
Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet
Samuel de Champlain and René-Robert Cavelier
John Smith and William Bradford
What was Jacques Marquette’s main mission when he was assigned to the Americas?
To become a fur trader
To bring Christianity to the people of the Americas
To establish a new French colony
To map the Mississippi River
Which river did Native Americans refer to as "The Great Water"?
Missouri River
Ohio River
Mississippi River
Illinois River
What skill was Jacques Marquette especially known for?
Building canoes
Learning Native American languages
Trading furs
Drawing maps
Why did most Europeans look at the American continents as obstacles?
They wanted to avoid contact with Native Americans
They were searching for a quick and safe route to the East Indies
They believed the land was too cold to settle
They thought the land was already fully explored
What was the significance of the Grand Village of the Illinois?
It was the first French settlement in Canada
It was the site of the first recorded encounter between Europeans and Native Americans in Illinois
It was the capital of New France
It was the largest city in the Great Lakes region
What was the significance of the Chicago Portage as recognized by Marquette and Joliet during their expedition?
It was a site for building a new fort
It provided an uninterrupted water route from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico
It was a rich area for fur trading
It was the location of the St. Francis Xavier Mission
Why did Marquette and Joliet have to portage their canoes and supplies near present-day Summit, IL?
The river was too shallow for travel
There was a 7.5 mile long marshy area connecting two rivers
They encountered hostile Native Americans
Their canoes were damaged
What happened to Marquette after his Mississippi expedition?
He became a governor
He died from dysentery
He returned to France
He started a trading company
What was the main reason La Salle wanted to explore further west into Canada?
To find gold
To claim land for Spain
To expand fur trading opportunities
To escape from France
What challenges did Louis Joliet face on his return trip to Quebec after the Mississippi expedition?
He was captured by the British
He lost almost all his records when his canoe overturned
He was attacked by wild animals
He ran out of supplies
How did the expeditions of Marquette, Joliet, and La Salle contributed to the development of the Midwest region of the United States.
Their expeditions led to the immediate founding of major cities
Their explorations opened up the region for further French exploration, settlement, and fur trading.
They established the first American government in the Midwest
They discovered gold and silver mines in the area
What was La Salle's great dream regarding the land he explored?
To see the land brought under French control with exclusive trading rights for himself.
To become the king of the new land.
To find gold and silver mines.
To establish a new religion.
Why was Henri de Tonti called the "man with the iron hand"?
Because he wore a cast iron replacement after losing a hand in battle.
Because he was very strong.
Because he used iron weapons.
Because he built iron forts.
What did Tonti do during an Iroquois raid on an Illinois village?
He went alone to the Iroquois, was stabbed and threatened, but helped end the battle with a peace offering.
He ran away from the village.
He attacked the Iroquois with his men.
He hid until the raid was over.
What does the name "Fort Crevecoeur" mean?
Broken heart
Iron hand
New hope
Great river
Why did La Salle leave Tonti in charge at Fort Crevecoeur?
To return to Canada to get iron for the ship.
To explore more land.
To fight the Iroquois.
To trade with the Indians.
Which of the following best describes La Salle's leadership style as mentioned in the text?
Vain and arrogant, unable to keep the respect of his followers.
Kind and generous, loved by all his men.
Strict but fair, respected by everyone.
Indecisive and weak, often ignored by his men.
What happened at Fort Crevecoeur while La Salle was away gathering materials?
The men mutinied, wrecked the fort, and deserted.
The fort was attacked by the Iroquois.
The ship was completed and sailed to Canada.
Tonti was captured by the Indians.
Who ceremoniously named the region Louisiana and claimed the entire Mississippi Valley for the King of France?
La Salle
Christopher Columbus
Hernando de Soto
Samuel de Champlain
Why did the French government decide to abandon all forts in the Illinois Country except for Fort St. Louis?
To please the Iroquois and reduce conflict
Because the forts were too expensive to maintain
Because the area was too cold
To focus on building settlements in Canada
Where was Fort Pimitoui built in 1692?
Near Lake Michigan
Where Peoria is today
At the mouth of the Mississippi River
In Cahokia
What happened to Tonti's monopoly of the fur trade after the fort was completed?
It was expanded
It was canceled by the government
It was given to the Jesuits
It was sold to the British
Which event marked the opening of Illinois to European settlement?
The building of Fort Crevecoeur
The death of Tonti in Mobile
The efforts of La Salle and Tonti, despite their failure
The founding of Cahokia
Why did the French crown issue an edict barring traders from the Western country in 1696?
To encourage more trade with the Indians
Because the Jesuits and Montreal traders argued that Illinois traders were corrupting the Indians and provoking wars
To allow British traders to enter the region
To protect the fur trade monopoly
What was the first permanent settlement in Illinois?
Kaskaskia
Prairie du Rocher
Cahokia
St. Genevieve
Who was John Law and what was his plan regarding the Illinois Country?
A French priest who built a chapel in Illinois
A Scotsman who tried to exploit Illinois' wealth to pay French government debts
An explorer who discovered the Mississippi River
A local Indian chief who traded with the French
What was the "Mississippi Bubble"?
A successful trade agreement between France and Illinois
The collapse of John Law's financial scheme in 1720
The name of a French fort in Illinois
A riverboat used for trade on the Mississippi River
Why did the French government decide to rebuild Fort Chartres in 1753?
To create a trading post for the Indians
To establish a new settlement for Jesuit missionaries
To fortify the Illinois Country with a strong military post
To provide homes for French merchants
How did the Mississippi River contribute to the growth of Illinois villages?
It provided a natural link to New Orleans and helped economic expansion
It was used only for fishing by local Indians
It separated Illinois from the rest of the country
It was a barrier to trade and settlement
Which river was used to transport agricultural products and lumber from Illinois to New Orleans?
The Ohio River
The Missouri River
The Mississippi River
The Colorado River
What was the approximate population of the French villages in Illinois at their peak, including slaves?
10,000 inhabitants
3,000 inhabitants
500 inhabitants
20,000 inhabitants
What event led to the end of French rule in the Illinois villages?
The signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1763
The arrival of Spanish settlers
The American Revolution
The construction of large barges
Why did the Indians resist British control after the French and Indian War?
They wanted to ally with the Spanish.
They regarded the French as friends and feared British settlers would take their land.
They preferred British rule over French rule.
They wanted to trade more with the British.
Explain how the outcome of the French and Indian War affected the control of the Illinois Country.
It allowed France to keep all its territory in North America.
It resulted in Great Britain gaining control of the Illinois Country.
It led to Spanish control of the Illinois Country.
It had no impact on the control of the Illinois Country.
What strategic challenges did the British face when trying to occupy Illinois after 1763?
They had to negotiate with the French for land rights.
They faced resistance from Indian tribes, especially under Pontiac, and had difficulty sending troops from Fort Detroit.
They lacked enough ships to cross the Atlantic.
They were unable to find the Mississippi River.
In early 1765, what was a major threat to English traders in the Illinois Country?
Hostile Indians
Harsh weather
Lack of supplies
French soldiers
Why did Pontiac agree to make peace with the British in 1765?
The British promised not to send settlers into Illinois
The British offered him land
The French forced him to surrender
The Indians wanted to join the British army
What significant event happened when the British arrived at Fort Chartres in October 1765?
The French commander lowered the French flag and the Union Jack was raised
The British destroyed the fort
The Indians attacked the British
The British built a new fort
Why did the British begin withdrawing their troops from Illinois by the 1770s?
Soldiers were needed in the east where colonists were becoming more rebellious
The French were attacking again
The Indians had taken over the forts
The British had run out of supplies
Analyze why trade between the eastern colonies and Illinois did not benefit the Indians as much as expected.
Shifty traders sent goods that did not interest the Indians, and outlaws often robbed trade wagons
The British banned all trade with the Indians
The French controlled all trade routes
The Indians refused to trade with anyone
By the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, what was the status of regular British troops in Illinois?
No regular British troops remained in Illinois.
British troops controlled all of Illinois.
British troops increased their presence in Illinois.
British troops built new forts in Illinois.
What is a Seminary?
What does Portage mean?
What does Expedition mean?
A journey undertaken for a specific purpose.
What is Dysentary?
a viral infection that causes a common cold.
a skin condition characterized by rashes and itching.
a type of food poisoning that leads to nausea.
an intestinal infection causing severe diarrhea with blood and mucus.
What are Obstacles?
What is a Surveyor?
What are Voyageurs?
What does the bold word mean in the following sentence?
The crew was upset and mutinied against the captain.
What does the bold word mean in the following sentence?
The group of explorers went on numerous expeditions around the new Illinois country.
What does the bold word mean?
The players acted very arrogant after their big win over the rival team.
What does the bold word mean in the following sentence?
France held a monopoly on the fur trade with the natives in Illinois.
What does the bold word mean in the following sentence?
It was believed that the French settlers were having a corrupting influence on the natives living in Illinois.
What does the bold word mean in the following sentence?
The King made an edict against settlers trading and interfering in the lives of the natives.
What does the bold word mean in the following sentence?
While the British came to the Americas to colonize it the French only wanted to trade and make money.
What does the bold word mean in the following sentence?
The British came to exploit the riches of the Americas
What does the bold word mean in the following sentence?
The French build many fortresses to try and help secure their claim to the Illinois country.
What does the bold word mean in the following sentence?
Being able to afford goods from France in your home was a luxury that many people could not afford.
What does the bold word mean in the following sentence?
Native Americans were seen as a menace to many settlers out in the Illinois country.
What does the bold word mean in the following sentence?
It was an endless cycle of fighting between the European setters and Native Americans
What does the bold word mean in the following sentence?
Eventually France was forced to cede all of its land East of the Mississippi to the British after the French and Indian War.
What does the bold word mean in the following sentence?
Chief Pontiac led a Native American resistance to the British after the French lost.
What does the bold word mean in the following sentence?
Many tribes were hostile towards people they saw as invaders trying to steal their land.
What does the bold word mean in the following sentence?
The natives were the captors of many English fighting men as they defended their homes.
