page_title: History of the Catholic Church in the United States
section_title: French territories
hierarchical_section_title: History of the Catholic Church in the United States / Colonial era / French territories
caption_attribution_description: English: St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans, by Rafal Konieczny, 2004 Français&#160;: Cathédrale St Louis, La Nouvelle Orléans, par Rafal Konieczny, 2004 Polski: Katedra Świętego Ludwika, Nowy Orlean, Rafał Konieczny, 2004
context_page_description: The Catholic Church in the United States began in the colonial era, but by the mid-1800's, most of the Spanish, French, and Mexican influences had institutionally and demographically faded, owing to the Louisiana Purchase and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The former territories of France, Spain, Mexico and the domains of the Native Peoples at the time were then opened up to East Coast, Southern and mid-Western Americans, primarily Protestant, migrating westward. During this same period, the Catholic Church in the East and mid-West grew through immigration overseas, especially from Europe In the nineteenth century the Church set up an elaborate infrastructure, based on diocese run by bishops appointed by the pope. Each diocese set up a network of parishes, schools, colleges, hospitals, orphanages and other charitable institutions. Many priests arrived from France and Ireland, but by 1900 Catholic seminaries were producing a sufficient supply of priests. Many young women became nuns, typically working as teachers and nurses.
context_section_description: In the French territories, Catholicism was ushered in with the establishment of missions such as Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan (1668), St. Ignace on the Straits of Mackinac, Michigan (1671) and Holy Family at Cahokia, Illinois (1699) and then colonies and forts in Detroit (1701), St. Louis, Mobile (1702), Kaskaskia, Il (1703), Biloxi, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans(1718). In the late 17th century, French expeditions, which included sovereign, religious and commercial aims, established a foothold on the Mississippi River and Gulf Coast. Small settlements were founded  along the banks of the Mississippi and its major tributaries, from Louisiana to as far north as the region called the Illinois Country.
  The French possessions were under the authority of the diocese of Quebec, under an archbishop, chosen and funded by the king. The religious fervor of the population was very weak; Catholics ignored the tithe, a 10% tax to support the clergy. By 1720, the Ursulines were operating a hospital in New Orleans.  The Church did send  Companions of the Seminary of Quebec and Jesuits  as missionaries, to convert Native Americans. These missionaries  introduced the Natives to Catholicism in stages.
caption: St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans
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