How did France’s colonial influence on North America begin? Samuel de Champlain established the first successful French settlement. Samuel de Champlain explored the Ohio Valley and established a colony there in 1603. Alexis de Tocqueville explored the area west of the Mississippi and claimed it for France. The very first French explorers successfully settled North America.

Verified Answer :

It was when
Samuel de Champlain established the first French settlement when he explored
the Ohio Valley and created a colony there. Later on the French had accumulated
the Mississippi Valley and Ohio River Valley all the way to Canada. The few
settlers lived in the colony and it was relied on the fur trade as well its relationship
with the Indians to get by.

Samuel de Champlain established the first French settlement