First French colonial empire
The first French colonial empire comprised the overseas colonies France acquired from the 16th century onward and lasted until 1814, by which time most of it had been lost or sold. France established colonies in the Americas, the Caribbean and India, but lost most of its possessions after its defeat in the Seven Years' War: the North American territories went to Britain and Spain, and Louisiana, returned to France by Spain in 1800, was sold to the United States in 1803. On the map for 1805–1814 only small remnants in North America remain. The second French colonial empire is usually dated from the conquest of Algiers in 1830.
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