Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Champlain’s Dream:
Apparently, you didn’t need to be a genocidal madman to start a new colony.
Quick synopsis:
The founding of New France by Samuel de Champlain.
Fact for Non-History People:
Saint John, New Brunswick was established before Jamestown and Plymouth.
Fact for History Nerds:
Samuel de Champlain’s burial site is missing. The original chapel it was put in burned down. A new one was built over it but has since disappeared as well. Champlain’s body is somewhere in Quebec.
My Take on Champlain’s Dream:
Even Canada’s founding is boring. (I kid, I kid.)
Right before the English started populating North America, the French beat them to it in the form of Samuel de Champlain. Unlike many stories of English colonization, Champlain took a much different approach. He made every effort to befriend the local native population and form strong bonds to get them through the lean years. Champlain’s efforts dragged him into many native wars because he chose sides, but he avoided much of the backstabbing the English would employ.
Champlain proved to be much more of a humanitarian (and in many cases, a better administrator) than any of his other European brethren. I won’t go so far as declaring him a saint, but there are stark differences in how he made his way in the New World.
Champlain was a dynamo in the founding of New France. He led military/exploring expeditions, returned to France to fight for his fledgling society, and made many administrative choices that helped Canada survive.
Like I said, he was kind of boring.
(I’m just kidding, eh!)
Verdict:
This is great history for someone interested in North American colonization. Buy it here!
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