Nouvelle-France
The French in America to 1760
Nouvelle-France
Why did the French and other Europeans
come to North America and how did they
interact with the First Peoples?
Introduction
15th century navigation- pioneer sailing routes to
Asia and America
Looking for exotic products from the Far East.
In 1492, Columbus landed and was disappointed
as he thought it was the shores of China(main
interest)
The “New World” was not ideal as they wanted to
find away around this massive land.
Who Came to the New World
Britain
Spain
Portugal
France-feared they would be left behind for
world trade.
Explorers
The Vikings
The Vikings were the first people to come
to Canada. They landed at L’anse aux
Meadows around 1000 AD and encountered
Beothuk people. They did not make a
permanent settlement.
Land Ho!
Britain: wealth and indentured labourers
Spain: passage for spices
Portugal: spices, territory, organized slave
trade
France-feared they would be left behind for
world trade. Settlement necessary to ensure
imperial supremcy.
John Cabot
John Cabot came to Canada for England in
1497 to look for the Northwest passage.
Instead he found vast amounts of cod off
the coast of Newfoundland. He reported
back to England of this discovery, and over
the next 100 years many countries would be
fishing off the Grand Banks.
France and Cartier
France sent an expedition in 1534.
Jacques Cartier headed this expedition
Cartier headed 3 voyages from 1534-1542
and penetrated from the St. Lawrence river
to Montreal
He also established a settlement in Quebec
Jacques Cartier
He encountered Aboriginal people at
Hochelaga (present day Montreal) and
Stadacona.
Cartier and his men brought Aboriginal
people back to France to demonstrate the
quality of slaves they would make.
They died of European disease on the way
back to France.
Henry Hudson
Henry Hudson looking for the Northwest
passage. The Northwest Passage would be
a faster trade route to China. The spice trade
was very profitable at this time. Eventually
made it to Hudson’s Bay ( Hudson’s Bay
Company)
John Guy
John Guy looking for the Northwest
Passage. Hit Baffin Island instead.
Life in Nouvelle-France
How did the French structure society
within their colony
1608-1763
Early Life in Quebec
Climate was sever
“The Great River,” or the St. Lawrence never lead
to the East as Cartier hoped
France abandoned colonization for 65 years.
In the summer France came to NFLD to fish and
then trading began with the First Nations.
The fish and furs forced France back to the New
World.
New France: An Overview of
Life
Geography Life on the farm
Economy of New Transportation
France Marriage and the
Church of New France family
Royal Government The 13 colonies
and Soldiers
Geography of Nouvelle-
France
Population was very small
By 1740, the territory of New France went
all the way to the Gulf of Mexico ( La Salle
and Cavelier)
This Southern region was called Louisana
Draw on board pg. 75
Geography: 2 schools of
thought
Exploration Settlement
Wanted to force the British
out past the mountains and Colbert wanted to settle
expand territory. and form the area into
“We must arm and support towns and villages so
them against those who they could defend
are in the English interest
and force the latter back themselves.
beyond the mountains” France should have
Exploration won but was a listened to Colbert.
bad move as the territory
became to large to support
Nouvelle-France, 1750
French Territory
The Economy of Nouvelle-
France
New France was a colony which meant it
was not an independent entity.
It belonged to the mother country
A colony’s main job is to support the the
mother country and provided it with riches.
Economy cont’d
2 main goals:
1. Fur trade provided new raw materials
2. Provide useful markets for goods
produced in the mother country eg. Cloth,
hardware.
Economy cont’d
What is mercantilism?
- New France provided France with the raw
materials and then sent them to France
where they became manufactured goods.
France then sold the manufactured goods
back to the colony.
- This system made the colonies a profitable
economic enterprise.
Advantages and
Disadvantages to
Mercantilism
Advantage:
-produced wealth and consumed goods for
the mother country
Disadvantage:
- the development of the colony was always
in the interest of the mother country and not
the colony. Trade with other places was
forbidden
Economy: Fur Trade
Fur trade: main economic trade of New France.
Furs only important export of colony
Quest for furs forced France further into the continent
causing alliances with First Nation Groups and
competition with other European countries.
First Nations valued metal wear (summer trading)
Fur trade: Warfare
Fur trade caused warfare as First Nation groups
were fighting against each other to be the main
trading partner with Europeans.
Europeans were fighting against each other to
control the trading routes
Huron were the main partners of the French
(Champlain)
Fur trade: Warfare
Iroquois fought against the Huron.
France was fighting with the Iroquois for over 100
years.
In 1649, the Iroquois destroyed Huronia driving
the inhabitants into exile.
They threatened to drive the French out. However
in 1666, King Louis XIV sent an army to attack
the Iroquois and peace was made.
Huron Iroquois Wars
By 1649 the Iroquois are dependant on the fur trade, but
they have wiped out their own supplies.
The Iroquois start to move north to trap furs near the
Huron people.
REMEMBER: The Iroquois have a lot of guns. They have
not been exposed to as many diseases as the Huron
because there are not any Europeans living among them.
Only Christianized Hurons get guns.
The Iroquois win a series of battles because of these
reasons.
They settle in the area and the fur trade starts to move
west.
The French need a new plan because the Iroquois are
trading with the English, and the Huron people are
basically non-existent.
The Great Peace (1701)
Aboriginal Peace
One of the best examples of diplomacy among Aboriginal
people.
Over 50 Aboriginal groups meet at Quebec to establish a
lasting peace between the Aboriginal groups.
The Iroquois promise to be neutral in any conflict between
the French and English. They also agree to be neutral for
any trading relationship.
Peace comes at a great price:
– lost their land and had to move to new territory which is not
always neutral.
– starving and dying from disease.
• This is largely due to the dependence on the fur trade
and disease
Fur Trade: Coureurs de Bois
Runners of the woods
They left there farms in the summer and
meet the Aboriginal trappers at their
hunting grounds.
They were responsible for transporting the
furs from the interior to the colony
Couruers de Bois
Advantages Disadvantages
Authorities did not like
The furs they them neglecting their
produced enriched the farms
colony They lead a footloose life.
Help secure loyalty Officials could not enforce
laws against them as they
with Aboriginals could slip into the
Adventured further wilderness
inland. Independent traders
working for own profit not
colony.
Fur Trade: Mad Hatter
The beaver fur was removed from the skin and
was masked together with other adhesives.
The “Hatter” (the name used for a hat maker)
would add mercury. The chemicals in mercury
would get underneath the hatter’s finger nails and
into his skin. The chemicals would make him go
crazy hence they were known as a MAD
HATTER!!
Fur Trade: 2 main Purposes
1. Economic
-increase revenue to support the growth of
France and to support the constant wars
against Britain
2. Military
- with the help of the Aboriginals each
country could expand further westward
and defeat the other country
Fur Trade: Groseillers and
Radisson
In 1660 Groseillers and Radisson learned of a
“northern sea” that would save a trader a long
journey
They proposed the idea to the French King.
In 1668, they went to the British King. They set
sail on the Nonsuch and entered the Hudson Bay.
In 1670, the Hudson Bay Company (HBC) was
formed. The King gave the HBC a monopoly as
they controlled all the land where the rivers
drained into the Hudson Bay.
Fur Trade: British vs. French
The British relied on the Aboriginals to
bring the furs to them.
The French went out and got the furs
What would be more profitable?
Fur Trade: Development of
Industry and Trade
Fish was another demanding resource
Catholics ate a lot of fish due to religion
Colonies were not intended to have
industries of their own that produced goods
available to the mother country from other
sources.
Fur Trade: Development of
Industry and Trade
North Atlantic Triangle
Manufactured goods
New France France
Furs wood, Fish
Fish
Sugar Manufactured Goods
Flour
Rum
Tobacco Wood
Sugar, rum, tobacco
Antilles Africa
After Champlain Dies
English are settling South of the St. Lawrence in
the thirteen colonies
Acadia (present day Nova Scotia) is controlled by
the French
New France has a very low population
The Recollects are already in New France trying
to Christianize Algonquian people.
The Iroquois are not being Christianized at this
point. They are trading with the English and Dutch
south of the St. Lawrence.
Church in Nouvelle-France
The Church in Nouvelle-
France
Religious outpost
Purpose to convert North Americans to
Christianity
Missionaries among the first colonists
Jesuits arrived in 1625, most aggressive
missionaries.
Jesuits concentrated on the Huron and lived
with them by 1634
The Jesuits
The Jesuits were French Missionaries sent to New France
to spread Christianity to Aboriginal People after the
Recollects fail.
They wanted to “humanize” the “savages” to make them
suitable citizens for New France.
They did this by isolating Aboriginal People from their
groups, and removing them from Aboriginal way of life
(spirituality and nomadic lifestyle.)
They formally educate the Hurons.
Their hopes for mass conversion failed, however they did
bring disease, the break up of families, and conflict.
The Ursuline Sisters
A female version of the Jesuit order.
They set up an all female school for
Aboriginal girls in Huronia.
They convinced already Christianized
Aboriginal men to send their daughters to
the school.
Missionaries and the Huron
Huron resisted the Jesuits
A smallpox epidemic swept through
Huronia killing thousands. The Huron
blamed the missionaries and wanted them to
leave.
However, some believed it was a sign of
what would happen if you did not convert.
Missionaries and the Huron
In fear of losing the trade and of death by
not converting to Christianity many of the
Huron converted.
Missionaries blamed the lack of conversions
on the Aboriginals nomadic lifestyle.
They felt the only way to succeed was
through settlement (Farming)
Church and Daily Life
Church=religious and social centre
Colonist support their church by giving them a
portion of their income called a tithe.
At the head of the church was the Bishop.
Religious comminutes operated the schools
Nursing sisters or Nuns established hospitals.
Nuns cared for the poor, orphans or families who
did not have support($)
Royal Government and
Soldiers
Nouvelle-France
Government and Soldiers
2 most important people: governor and intendant.They
were appointed by the King
Intendant: looked after internal affairs (roads, courts, social
welfare)
Governor: responsible for external affairs (military)
Bishop: in charge of the Roman Catholic Church. Oversaw
Healthcare, education, and converting the Aboriginal
people.
New France was a heavily militarized society
Government and Soldiers
Every male was a soldier
Population was organized into military units
Each Parish had a company of militia
consisting of men between 16-60
Captain was chosen by the inhabitants, in
peace times they acted as a spokesperson
Important Officials to Nouvelle-
France
Minister of Colonial Affairs for France
Jean-Baptiste Colbert :
1. Build a colonial empire with a navy to defend it.
2. Halt expansion west. He doesn’t think that colony can defend itself.
3. Colonies can fund France’s military, pay off French debt through the
mercantile policy.
4. Don’t want the colony to become too powerful, so they make the
government officials answer to the King instead of allowing them to
have their own ruling body.
Sovereign Council
The Sovereign Council was the ruling body
in New France.
Sovereign Council was an appointed body
modeled after French Parliament to serve as
the court,
Included an Intendant, a Governor, a Bishop
and an attorney general.
Intendant
Intendant
The first Intendant to arrive in New France
is Jean Talon.
Responsible for justice, finance, and the
welfare of the colony.
Usually a professional such as a lawyer.
Ran the day-to-day affairs of the colony.
Governor
Governor
The first Governor of New France is
Frontenac.
Responsible for military and external
relations.
Usually a noble and represented the King
directly.
Bishop
Bishop
In charge of the Roman Catholic Church
Oversaw Healthcare, education, and
converting the Aboriginal people.
Law in Nouvelle-France
Customs of Paris is the civil law of New
France
Criminal law includes: crimes against God,
crimes against the crown, crimes against
people and property.
Life on the Farm
Nouvelle-France
Life on the Farm
2 classes in New France: Ruling elite and
Farmers.
The majority of the people were farmers.
Farms were characteristically long and
narrow.
Indentured Servants
Who are they?
Men who came to New France to work for a certain
amount of years (3-5) under a contract from France.
Most of these men were criminals, poor, unmarried, or
unemployable in France.
What they received:
Freedom: many go back to Europe
They were promised food, a small salary (half of which
was saved for them until after their term of employment,)
passage back to France.
Drawbacks:
These men could not marry, trade for themselves, or farm.
Life on the Farm
The farms were established by the
river(main arteries)
The second row of farms was called the
rang.
This system of occupying the land allowed
for roads to be built.
Farmers built their houses at the foot of
their lots close to the river or road.
Life on the Farm
Mainly wheat growers
Next to house the wife and children tended
a large vegetable garden, with tobacco patch
in one corner and an orchard.
Life on Farm: Income
Farming never made a lot of money
Farmers supplemented income by:
1) Woodcutting
2) Fishing
3) Hunting
4) Maple Syrup
Life on the Farm:Seigneurial
System
Land was owned by the Crown
Land was then granted to landlord who were
required to perform certain duties.
This method of landholding was called the
Seigneurial System
Landlords were called the Seignuer
Draw on board system. NOTE-farm would
further be divided among sons
Seigneur Duties and Rights
Duties Rights
Conserve oak trees for his
majesties ships Fish
Mines and minerals Hunt
Make a place of residence Trade with
Clear the land Aboriginals
Roads for public use
Payments they
Leave sandbars open for
fishing (except his own) received were their
Subdivide land and settle own
farmers on it.
Farmers duties to the
Seigneur/Church
Construct a house
Cultivate the land
Pay annual taxes
Payment of portion of grain and fish
3-4 days of free labour on the seigneur’s
land
Give portion of crop to church as Tithe
Seigneurial System: Summary
Positive
Encouraged settlement
Seigneur’s were agents of the colony
System designed to produce wealth among
landowners
Negative
Seigneur’s did not gain high status like in France
Farmers could easily leave land for fur trade
Towns in Nouvelle-France
Towns in Nouvelle-France
2 main towns: Quebec and Montreal
Quebec: divided into 2 sections:
A. Lower Town by the water docks and warehouses
B. Upper Town which was the wealthier part of the city
-classy, welcomed ships from Europe, centre of government
and religion.
Montreal: Frontier town
- Backdoor-linked colony to interior
- Commerce was fur trade
Transportation in Nouvelle-
France
Confined by water
Used canoes or sailing crafts
Settlement caused roads
In winter roads were not ploughed
Waterway still best method
Every family had at least 2 horses: one for work
and one for pleasure
Note: Riding fast was a popular recreation. Laws
had to be passed to control speeding. If bowled
over a pedestrian you received a fine.
Marriage and the Family
Nouvelle-France
Marriage and the Family
Few careers for women
Young girls were better educated
Teenage girls were hired as domestic servants.
Few became nuns
Women got married when they became of age(12-
16 yrs old)
Women remarried when husband died or looked
after farm
Marriage and the Family
Women were influential in the economic life of
colony
Colony wanted people to marry young and have
many children (1 child every 2 years during
childbearing years)
Many children died due to disease or military
Average # of children:6
Boys entered the military at 16 yrs of age
Marriage and the Family
If could not support children family would give
them up as servants to the wealthy.
Children did not have childhood:
1) Cleaned Barns
2) Tended garden and animals
3) Household chores
4) Tended the fire
5) Brought fuel
6) Carried water from river
Marriage and Family
Parents wanted their children to marry
someone who is wealthy
When one child marries into a family of
status or wealth the entire family improves
due to alliances.
Filles du Roi
Who are they?
Women sent to the colony to marry men already
living there.
Mostly young women who were orphaned in
France. The orphanage would be paid to send
healthy girls over 14 who would bear children for
the colony.
Benefits:
Families were offered bonus money for having
large families of 10 or more children.
Also called “Daughters of the King.”
13 Colonies
British Colonies
13 Colonies
Arrived in 1607
Jamestown on Chesapeake Bay
Instead of fur trade, tobacco
13 Colonies
3 groups
1. New England
Mass, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode
Island
-Based on farming, fishing, logging
2. Middle Colonies
-NY, NJ, Pennsylvania, Delaware
-Rich agriculture area, timber and iron
13 Colonies
3. Southern Colony
-Maryland, Virginia, The Carolinas and
Georgia
Economy-tobacco used blacks as slaves
Population: 13 colonies vs.
Nouvelle-France
Year New France* 13 Colonies
1660 3 000 90 000
1710 18 000 331 711
1720 24 474 446 185
1750 53 000 1 170 760
1760 64 041 1 593 625
*Kings Daughters
Reason for Disparity
Landscape
Milder climate
Fertile Land
Fur trade did not require large population
Immigrants more opportunity to survive
British did not follow mercantilism as much
13 colonies traded crops with Europe