Dossier II – How did the French settlers occupy Quebec?

Mr. Wilson’s Art/History Class

First Contact

Jacques Cartier (1491 – 1557) was the first European to claim what is now Canada for the French crown.

He came over 3 times, and each time he tried to make a settlement, he was thwarted by the natives.

The “Dauphin Map” of Canada

Realization

The French Quickly realized that in order to have settlements in North America, they would have to appease the Natives.

However, they Europeans never even considered “asking” the Natives for permission to settle there.

Instead, it was assumed they had no claim on the land because they had no public institutions and they were not Christian.

Samuel de Champlain

In 1608, Champlain founded Quebec city near the Native village Stadacona.

In 1934, he founded Trois-Rivieres in order to protect his fur shipments coming from the interior.

Samuel de Champlain

In 1642, near the Iroquois village of Hochelaga, Paul Chomedy and Jeanne Meance founded Ville-Marie in order to evangelize the heathen natives.

This site soon became a major trading-post because it was far inside Indian territory, and in the 18th century it was re-named Montreal.

The village of Hochelaga no longer existed.

French Relations with the Amerindians Champlain did a much better job at trading

and appeasing the Amerindians. Famously, he was invited to go on a war

campaign with the Algonquians and the Huron, against the Iroquois.

The battle took place somewhere near lake Champlain, and there was only Samuel himself, 2 other Frenchmen and 60 Algonquians.

The Battle!

They ran into 200 Iroquois and the battle ensued!

The Algonquians pointed out the Iroquois chiefs to Champlain and he fired two shots with his Arquebus, killing 2 of them while his back-up shot the third chief.

The Iroquois fled and it was a momentous occasion for the Algonquians. However, the French were consequently at war with the Iroquois for the next 100 years.

Effects on the Amerindian Population Right after the Europeans started arriving, the

Amerindian population began to suffer. Between the fact that the Europeans

completely ignored their land claims, they also carried deadly diseases to which the Natives had no protection against.

It is estimated that ½ of the Huron population died of smallpox in less then 10 years.

Effects on the Amerindian Population Basically, the French did not believe the

Natives had any rights whatsoever, and they viewed them as expendable or worse: “savage.”

This kind of behaviour is clearly represented through the actions of the French, who in one case, gave away sections of land without notifying the Natives.

Workbook Pages

Pp. 15 – 16 (I have a beard.) (and it is awesome.)

The Settlement of Canada

It is estimated that 30 000 French Citizens left France for the New World.

Of that 30 000, only 1/3 survived. In 1627 the King of France mandated the

“Company of One Hundred Associates” to populate the new colony.

At the time, the only people who were interested were male, and they were either fighters or businessmen.

Politics of Immigration

In order to foster the development of his new province, New France, Louis XIV targeted 3 different areas:

Soldiers Indentured Servants (Engagés) And the Filles du Roi

Immigration Policies

Engagés: had to work for 36 months to pay for their travel fees.

Soldiers: originally sent to contain the Iroquois, many stayed after receiving lands from Jean Talon.

Filles du Roi: often orphans, the King gave them a Dowry if they found a spouse in New France.

Birth Incentives

The new immigrants were encouraged to have large families, this in turn would also help with agriculture.

See page 19 for a list of all of the incentives! But more then that, there were also

punishments for those who did not have children.

Did they work?

Workbook!

Pages 20 - 21

Portrait of the Canadian Population 1666, Jean Talon (the intendant of New

France) took a census of the population. 3173 permanent residents Most were Engagés and Volunteers Names were linked through matrimony and their specific

profession.

Most were participating in the Fur Trade or worked as craftsmen in the cities.

Due to the birth incentives, by 1760 the rural population had increased dramatically!

Principal Social Groups

The Secular Elite Administration, aristocrats, bourgeois

The Church Bishop, Secular Clergy, Regular Clergy (Monks and

Nuns!)

The People Farmers, Craftsmen, Labourers, Small merchants,

Servants, Slaves

Slavery

During the French regime there were approximately 4000 slaves.

Most were Amerindians from the Panis nation, who had been captured by other Amerindians!

The last third were Africans captured in the Caribbean or in the British Colonies (Africa).

Slavery

Most worked as servants in the major cities and their owners belonged to the secular elite or to the clergy.

Slavery was legal in New France until 1833.

The Occupation of the Territory The Seigneuries

When the French arrived here, they naturally cut agricultural land the same way they had at home.

A “Seigneurie” was granted to a Lord, or to a community. The Seigneurie was then split up to the peasants or the

workers, and they were called CENSITAIRES. The land was split lengthwise, so that the majority of the

CENSITAIRES would have access to the water.

The Occupation of the Territory The Village and the Parish

When a Seigneurie grew large enough, they could usually afford to build a Church.

At which point the territory would be given a parish name.

By 1721 there were 82 parishes along the shores of the St-Lawrence river.

In 1760, 98% of the population of New France was of French origin.

However, this was likely to change after the arrival of the British.

Thank-You.

Where’s my money?

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