Kourou and the Struggle for a French America (War, Culture and Society, 1750 –1850)

Kourou was to be a wonderful revenge, a French colony in America after the Seven Years War in 1763. However, the fantastic ideal became a grand failure and political disaster, marking the end of the French attempts for an American colony. "Kourou and the Struggle for a French America explores the famous enterprise of the French monarchy, taking place immediately after the Seven Years War--the establishment of a French colony in America. Kourou was to be a wonderful revenge, directed by the brightest scientific minds of the Enlightenment as they sought to create a new settlement akin to El Dorado. The French government promised free travel, and other advantages never offered before. The settlement was deemed so important that the British government maintained a close eye on its development. However, the fantastic ideal of this new French colonial world became a grand failure, and a political disaster. Kourou marked the end of the French attempts for an American colony, and the shift of attention to Africa and Asia, her 'second' world empire"-- Provided by publisher Cover 1 Series 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 List of Figures and Tables 9 Foreword by Patrice Higonnet 10 Acknowledgements 13 Introduction 15 1 Farewell Quebec 22 2 The Realm of the Golden King 45 3 The Americas 59 4 White Colony 74 5 Forces Present 84 6 Mirages 91 7 From the Rhine to the Atlantic 118 8 Disaster Ahead 133 9 Kourou 139 10 The Trap is Sprung 155 11 Turgot’s Disgrace 175 Conclusion 187 Chronology of events 191 Glossary 200 Biographies 202 Notes 210 Index 246 Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Introduction....Pages 1-7 Farewell Quebec....Pages 8-30 The Realm of the Golden King....Pages 31-44 The Americas....Pages 45-59 White Colony....Pages 60-69 Forces Present....Pages 70-76 Mirages....Pages 77-103 From the Rhine to the Atlantic....Pages 104-118 Disaster Ahead....Pages 119-124 Kourou....Pages 125-140 The Trap is Sprung....Pages 141-160 Turgot’s Disgrace....Pages 161-172 Conclusion....Pages 173-176 Back Matter....Pages 177-236