How did explorers from france play an important role in the colonization of the southeastern united states? question 4 options: a) they built missions along the coast to convert native americans. b) they were the first to explore florida and the gulf coast. c) they introduced slavery to the area. d) they formed trading posts along the mississippi river.

The important role of French explorers in the colonization of the southeastern United States is:  

(B) They were the first to explore Florida and the Gulf Coast.

The French are the first who discovered Florida. It was King Francis I, in 1524, who sent the Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazano to this continent. The main purpose of this trip was to find a route to reach the Pacific Ocean. He did not find this route, but he was the first who sailed on the southeastern coast United States.

In 1562, King Charles IX sent a French explorer, Jean Ribault with a group of settlers to live in that region and they found French Florida. Two years after their arrival, they built Fort Caroline on the Saint Johns River. They discovered an island in South Carolina which they called Paris Island.

The arrival of the French who were Protestant Huguenots did not please the Catholic Spaniards. These two groups conflicted in Europe and continued it in North America. One year after the construction of Fort Caroline, the Spaniards found the city of St. Augustine, and they attacked the French until they were killed.

Subject: History

Chapter: Empire and Identity in the American Colonies

Keywords: French colonies, colonization of Florida, the Huguenots, Francis I of France, the story of Jean Ribault