And now, in ample measure, the French began to reap the harvest of their folly. Conquest, gold, and military occupation had alone been their aims. Not a rod of ground had been stirred with the spade. Their stores were consumed, and the expected supplies had not come. The Indians, too, were hostile. Satouriona hated them as allies of his enemies; and his tribesmen, robbed and maltreated by the lawless soldiers, exulted in their miseries. Yet in these, their dark and subtle neighbors, was their only hope.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Parkman details the French suffering due to conquest-focused policies and hostile local relations.
- In plain terms
- The French suffered because they wanted conquest instead of building settlements or helping locals.
- What can you take from it?
- Conquest without settlement leads to isolation and failure.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What are the costs of conquest over settlement?
- How do policies alienate local allies?
Another view
The quote emphasizes French folly while minimizing Indigenous agency.
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