France & the Americas 3 Vols

A unique, multidisciplinary encyclopedia covering the impacts that French and American politics, foreign policy, and culture have had on shaping each country's identity. From the earliest settlements at Sable Island, Acadia, and Guiana at the dawn of the 17th century to the opening of Disneyland Paris in 1992, French and American culture, politics, and society have exerted ever stronger influences over one another. The transatlantic spread of French language and culture, and in turn, the influence of American film and music within the Francophone countries of the Old World, has done much to break down notions of France and America as distinct and divided countries. From 17th-century fur traders in Canada to 21st-century peacekeepers in Haiti, from France's decisive role in the Revolutionary War leading to the creation of the United States to recent disagreements over Iraq, France and the Americas charts the history of the inextricable links between France and the nations of the Americas. This comprehensive survey features an incisive introduction and a chronology of key events, spanning 400 years of France's transatlantic relations. Students of many disciplines, as well as the lay reader, will appreciate this comprehensive survey, which traces both the common themes of French policy, language, and influence throughout the Americas and the wide-ranging transatlantic influences on contemporary France.