Amerique septentrionale

Title

Amerique septentrionale

Description

Map shows total North America with natives, animals and description about population and explanation of the decorative pictures.

ca. 1845

Artist

Lemercier / Levasseur (1800-1870)

Cadastre of the War and Bridge Department by V. Levasseur, Geographer Engineer attached to the Cadastre and the City of Paris. Huge Parisian firm of lithographic printers founded by Joseph Rose Lemercier (1803-1887), who began as the foreman for Langlumé in 1825. Working on his own account from 1827, 1829-36 in partnership with Bénard association formed in 1837 according to IFF catalogue for Joseph Lemercier. The firm was still active in 1841.

Historical Description

The discovery of America signifies the first sighting of the American continent by seafarers. Before Columbus' arrival in 1492, North America may have had more inhabitants than Europe at that time. In 1497, the Genoese John Cabot (actually: Giovanni Caboto) was the first European to set foot on North American soil since the Vikings. However, no permanent settlements were established for the time being. St. Augustine in Florida, founded by the Spanish in 1565, is considered the first city on the North American mainland and is also the oldest city in the United States. In the European conquest of North America, four states stood out, each of which facilitated the seizure: England was under pressure to emigrate, in part because of religion, and thus was able to represent the largest group numerically. France had special skills in dealing with indigenous peoples, which later led to the only mixed ethnic group, the Métis .Netherlands had the financial resources to establish colonies in North America. Spain had enormous military potential because of its battle experience. In 1604, the King of England, James I, divided his North American colonies as follows: The area from the 1st to the 41st parallel is said to be settled by the Virginia Company of London, the area from the 41st to the 45th degree by the Plymouth Company. 1607 is considered the founding year of the first permanent colony of English settlers on the east coast of America. There was a collision between three cultures: Indians, white settlers and slaves from Africa. In that year, the first settlers from England landed at Jamestown, followed by the (better known) Pilgrims on the Mayflower in what is now the state of Massachusetts. These could find shelter directly in the abandoned Indian settlements. The coastal Indians were now ready to cooperate and had established Plymouth the English gateway to North America.