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Article: MISSION BARELY POSSIBLE?(La Salle)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Cobblestone
- Article date:
- October 1, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 Carus Publishing Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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As soon as he landed in Canada in 1667, La Salle stepped into controversy. Some influential colonists were arguing that France's power in the New World should be increased through conquest and trade. Others believed that further expansion was foolish. They felt that New France already was too large to be supported and protected properly.
La Salle was caught in the middle. For example, Canadian Governor Frontenac aided the explorer, but Governor La Barre, Frontenac's successor, did not support La Salle's expeditions. Jesuit missionaries argued that La Salle's plans would increase Indian contact with unscrupulous European traders. These traders would expose the ...