THE FUR TRADE: ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY BEAVER

(Module 1 Section II #1)

TYPES OF COLONYTYPES OF COLONY

►Fur Trading ColonyFur Trading Colony ($$$$$) ($$$$$)

►Settlement ColonySettlement Colony (build society (build society similar to Mother Country, i.e. France)similar to Mother Country, i.e. France)

MERCANTILISMMERCANTILISM Economic policyEconomic policy during 17 during 17thth & 18 & 18thth

Centuries.Centuries.

Country’s wealth and power dictated by Country’s wealth and power dictated by accumulation of goldaccumulation of gold, silver, and riches., silver, and riches.

To acquire wealth, country needed to To acquire wealth, country needed to export export more than they importmore than they import (i.e. sell more (i.e. sell more goods than it purchased).goods than it purchased).

Mother Country (e.g. France) would use their Mother Country (e.g. France) would use their colonies (e.g. New France) by exploiting their colonies (e.g. New France) by exploiting their raw materials, manufacturing finished goods, raw materials, manufacturing finished goods, selling the finished goods on international selling the finished goods on international markets; including their own colonies! markets; including their own colonies!

COMPANIESCOMPANIES

Companies obtained Companies obtained chartercharter from from King to hold and control trading King to hold and control trading monopoly in fur trade.monopoly in fur trade.

In return, companies promised to In return, companies promised to populatepopulate their respective areas. their respective areas.

Companies also Companies also governedgoverned the colony. the colony. 1627 – The Company of One Hundred 1627 – The Company of One Hundred

Associates was created.Associates was created.

TERRITORIAL EXPANSION TERRITORIAL EXPANSION DUEDUE TO THE FUR TRADE TO THE FUR TRADE (p.17 (p.17

Nutshell)Nutshell) Demand for fur pelts increased and sources known to French Demand for fur pelts increased and sources known to French

(e.g. St. Lawrence Valley) were depleting.(e.g. St. Lawrence Valley) were depleting.

New territoryNew territory needed to be needed to be exploredexplored and claimed. and claimed. -1634, Nicolet, explored Lakes Huron &-1634, Nicolet, explored Lakes Huron & Michigan.Michigan. -1671, Saint-Lusson, expl. Lake Superior.-1671, Saint-Lusson, expl. Lake Superior. -1671-2, Saint-Simon / Albanel, expl. Saguenay-1671-2, Saint-Simon / Albanel, expl. Saguenay to James Bay.to James Bay. --1673, Joliet / Marquette, expl. Mississippi1673, Joliet / Marquette, expl. Mississippi Valley to the Arkansas River.Valley to the Arkansas River. -1682, LaSalle, expl. Mississippi River to its mouth -1682, LaSalle, expl. Mississippi River to its mouth

in in Louisiana.Louisiana. -1742-3, LaVerendrye, expl. Interior Plains to the -1742-3, LaVerendrye, expl. Interior Plains to the

Rocky Rocky Mtns.Mtns.

FUR TRADE ALLIANCESFUR TRADE ALLIANCES

► French aligned themselves with Algonquin French aligned themselves with Algonquin Nations.Nations.

► Iroquois (enemies to Algonquin) allied Iroquois (enemies to Algonquin) allied themselves with Dutch and English.themselves with Dutch and English.

► Many battles between Algonquin and Iroquois Many battles between Algonquin and Iroquois over territory for fur.over territory for fur.

► Iroquois destroyed Huron Nation. Birth of Iroquois destroyed Huron Nation. Birth of coureurs de boiscoureurs de bois to explore and do work of to explore and do work of acquiring fur pelts done by Hurons.acquiring fur pelts done by Hurons.

CHAIN OF PRODUCTION IN FUR CHAIN OF PRODUCTION IN FUR TRADETRADE

1) 1) NativesNatives: Hunted & trapped animals for fur.: Hunted & trapped animals for fur.

2) 2) Coureurs de boisCoureurs de bois: French settlers traveled territory to : French settlers traveled territory to purchase fur pelts from Natives. Lived with natives purchase fur pelts from Natives. Lived with natives learning way of life (language) and survival.learning way of life (language) and survival.

3) 3) VoyageursVoyageurs: Replaced : Replaced coureurs de boiscoureurs de bois in 1700. Paddled in 1700. Paddled canoes with furs from West to posts in Montreal and canoes with furs from West to posts in Montreal and Quebec. Many employed by merchants/traders.Quebec. Many employed by merchants/traders.

4) 4) TradersTraders: Merchants who financed the expeditions. : Merchants who financed the expeditions. Acquired permits to do business. Acquired permits to do business.

5) 5) CompanyCompany: Controlled fur trade and governed colony. : Controlled fur trade and governed colony. Traders sold furs to company who shipped them to Traders sold furs to company who shipped them to France.France.

6) 6) FursFurs: returned to France where they were made into : returned to France where they were made into manufactured goods and sold on markets.manufactured goods and sold on markets.

RESULTS OF THE FUR TRADE IN NEW RESULTS OF THE FUR TRADE IN NEW FRANCEFRANCE

► Territorial growthTerritorial growth (demands of the fur trade (demands of the fur trade and missionary work led to exploration of new and missionary work led to exploration of new territory – New France extended from the territory – New France extended from the Atlantic to the Prairies, and from Hudson Bay Atlantic to the Prairies, and from Hudson Bay to the Gulf of Mexico)to the Gulf of Mexico)

► Alliances with NativesAlliances with Natives (French allied (French allied themselves with the Hurons and Algonquians. themselves with the Hurons and Algonquians. The Dutch and English allied themselves with The Dutch and English allied themselves with the Iroquois. Many battles ensued)the Iroquois. Many battles ensued)

► French encircled English colonyFrench encircled English colony (French (French territorial expansion blocked English from territorial expansion blocked English from going westward to find fur rich areas. English going westward to find fur rich areas. English felt threatened and many battles ensued felt threatened and many battles ensued leading to English conquest in 1760)leading to English conquest in 1760)

Mutual Benefits from Mutual Benefits from InteractionInteraction

► The meeting of two cultures had both positive and The meeting of two cultures had both positive and negative results. Positives included the exchange of negative results. Positives included the exchange of ideas, objects and ways of doing things. Unfortunately, ideas, objects and ways of doing things. Unfortunately, over time, the Natives got the raw deal resulting in a over time, the Natives got the raw deal resulting in a breakdown of their society.breakdown of their society.

The EuropeansThe Europeans ► Acquired Native customs and were taught how to Acquired Native customs and were taught how to

survive in the North American wilderness. survive in the North American wilderness. ► Learned how to make winter Learned how to make winter clothingclothing from furs and from furs and

moccasinsmoccasins from leather; how to use from leather; how to use canoescanoes, , snowshoessnowshoes, and , and tobogganstoboggans to travel; how to to travel; how to preserve preserve foodfood and how to use plants for medicinal purposes (e.g. and how to use plants for medicinal purposes (e.g. cure scurvy). cure scurvy).

► Learned of Learned of new foodsnew foods such as corn, pumpkins, and such as corn, pumpkins, and maple syrup.maple syrup.

Mutual Benefits from InteractionMutual Benefits from Interaction cont’dcont’d

The NativesThe Natives ( (Positive Influences)Positive Influences)►Learned of Learned of new foodsnew foods such as bread, such as bread,

peas, and salt. peas, and salt. ► Introduced to Introduced to woolen clothwoolen cloth and and

blanketsblankets. . ► Introduced to Introduced to iron toolsiron tools and and weaponsweapons. .

Mutual Benefits from InteractionMutual Benefits from Interaction cont’dcont’d

The Natives (Negative Influences)The Natives (Negative Influences) ► Use of alcohol, unknown to the Natives before Use of alcohol, unknown to the Natives before

the arrival of the Europeans, had disastrous the arrival of the Europeans, had disastrous repercussions on Native society.  repercussions on Native society. 

► European European diseasesdiseases (smallpox, measles, (smallpox, measles, influenza) killed thousands of Native people.  influenza) killed thousands of Native people. 

► Fur trade conditioned European-Indian Fur trade conditioned European-Indian relations along antagonistic lines and changed relations along antagonistic lines and changed the Native way of life.  the Native way of life. 

► Religious orders, such as the Jesuits, tried to Religious orders, such as the Jesuits, tried to impose Christianity on the Native populations. impose Christianity on the Native populations.