With reference to either British or French North America in the period from 1500 to 1763, to what extent did the structure of colonial government address political and economic challenges?

Candidates will consider how far the governmental structure of either British or French North America affected its ability to address political and economic challenges during the period indicated. In respect to French colonial government, candidates may address the difficulties they experienced establishing trade relations with indigenous peoples in their efforts to exploit fur-rich regions, the attempts to gain access for Jesuit missionaries to evangelize and encourage migration, the efforts to establish companies to develop the land and resources as well as the change from commercial to royal administration in response to imperial conflict with Britain. In respect to British North America, candidates may focus on the appointment of governors and councils to deal with commercial problems, religious conflicts, raids by indigenous peoples and wars with France. Protection was typically left to colonial governments which struggled to raise or pay for frontier militias.