Jacques Cartier Born 1491 in St. Malo, France Died St. Malo, France 1557 Given permission by King Charles I of France to look for gold in the New World and find a passage to Asia. es/minute.do?id=10123

April 20, 1534 Cartier left St. Malo with 2 ships and 61 men. He was charged with discovering “certain isles and countries where it is said there must be great quantities of gold and other riches.” Unlike Cabot, Cartier knew exactly where he was headed. It is suggested that he had accompanied another explorer, Verrazano, on an earlier failed voyage, and he had been over before on fishing expeditions. Perhaps the most important discovery that Cartier made was recognizing that Newfoundland was actually an island. Cartier was a bit of a poet and described the lands he saw with emphasis Newfoundland = the Land that God gave Cain Prince Edward Island = fairest land ‘tis possible to see.

Cartier sailed up the coast of New Brunswick (wasn’t called that at the time). He was met by enthusiastic Mi’kmaq peoples, who were well versed in trade and eager to acquire European goods. Continuing on he hugged the coastline to the Gaspe peninsula. There he connected with a group of Iroquois peoples on a seasonal fishing expedition.

In front of this group of Iroquois, and their chief Donnacona, Cartier erected a large wooden cross with the words Vive Le Roi de France and claimed the land for France. Donnacona was naturally offended. Despite the language barrier, he knew that this man was up to no good. Cartier recalled the incident in his journals – “pointing to the cross, (Donnacona) made us a long harangue… and then he pointed to the land all around about, as if he wished to say that all this region belonged to him, and that we ought not to have set up our cross without his permission.”

Cartier lied to Donnacona, telling him it was a navigational marker, and not a claim of ownership. He tried to win the chief over by overwhelming him with goods and gifts. Cartier, as a sign of “trust and good faith”, took Donnacona’s two sons back to Europe with him. All in all, by European standards it was a successful journey

Cartier parti deux; down the St. Lawrence Donnacona’s sons where taken back to Europe to be taught French so they could be interpreters on a return voyage. Despite the overwhelming culture shock in Europe, they did lead Cartier back to their home village a year later. They enticed him to return with stories of the magical kingdom of the “Saguenay”. 1535, Cartier to return with 3 ships and 110 men. – Was Cartier wise to return?

Led by his captives, Cartier sailed into the St. Lawrence river. There they came upon the village of Stadacona, present day Quebec. Donnacona was naturally thrilled to see his sons; but gave the cold shoulder to Cartier. Cartier increased the tension between the two of them by sailing further upriver. This was because the Stadacona controlled the trade along the St. Lawrence (they had a monopoly). Cartier had no right to bypass them.

Cartier didn’t care, he went upriver anyway, there he found the village of Hochelaga (present day Montreal). He was greeted and treated as royalty; as a deity. The sick were brought out to him. He was led on a royal procession.

Cartier climbed a hill, which he named Mont Royal (Montreal), and planted another cross for France there. Atop Mont Royal, he could see the rapids that awaited him further up river. At the sight of this, he knew that he had not found the elusive passage to Asia. Disheartened he turned back.

Cartier began to feel as though he would never reach Asia. He stayed the winter in Stadacona. -Relations were strained between he French and the Iroquois, Cartier’s winter was miserable. Sailors died of scurvy until he was finally shown how to make vitamin C rich tea out of Spruce. -In exchange, the French crew shared several European disease to which the Natives had no immunity. -When spring came, Cartier made ready to set sail and return to Europe. He invited Donnacona onto his ship (as a trick) and then kept him and 4 other Natives hostage. -When the Iroquois offered 5 other Natives in exchange for Donnacona, Cartier just took them too! -So in 1536, Cartier, his men, and 9 Native prisoners sailed back to Europe

-Believing that Cartier’s findings might lead to great wealth and territory, the King of France approved a third expedition. -Cartier left in 1541 to establish a colony, with only one of the original 9 captives were returned to the Stadacona, and it wasn’t Donnacona (he died in France, as a “good Christian”) - When Cartier arrived, the Iroquois were very wary of the French. Cartier tried to build a colony along the St. Lawrence, but the Natives had turned against him. They refused to trade with him (limiting the food resources available to Cartier) and often fought with settlers settlers died, Cartier had enough. Cartier loaded his ship with worthless minerals thought to be diamonds and gold, packed it in, and left. -On his way home, he crossed paths of a second expedition which had left France in 1542, led by Sieur de Roberval. This second attempt to colonize was just as futile.

Was Cartier Successful? Yes Found new land Mapped the St. Lawrence Recognized that it was a dead end Gained knowledge about 1 st nations. Newfoundland is an island! “Kanada” No Never achieved his goals Waste of money/investors No passage to Asia “killed” lots of French men Ruins the relationship with the Iroquois (for years to come) No colony

Was Cartier Successful? Yes – He had charted one of the world’s great rivers – He had given France claim on the mainland No – He had not found the wealth he’d been looking for – Did not find the “Kingdom of the Saguenay” – Did not find the Northwest Passage

Samuel de Champlain Born at Brouage, France c 1570; died at Québec City 25 Dec 1635 Though Champlain himself didn’t originally set out as the head of a grand voyage, he was integral in establishing the first successful colony in North America. He was an avid writer and cartographer

Port Royal (on the Bay of Fundy) The Sieur de Monts was appointed to set up trading posts in Canada, and given a monopoly. Champlain was on this voyage with de Monts. In They and 60 others began to travel up the St. Lawrence, but decided that the best place for their post would be in Port Royal (Nova Scotia) This post wasn’t overly profitable, and de Monts lost his monopoly. Settlers tried to make a go of things; building and planting crops, they even created a dining club “l’ordre de bon temps” (Order of Good Cheer)

Side note Port Royal was official abandoned in A few settlers were allowed to stay behind as long as they promised not to get involved in the fur trade. They stayed on, farmed and worked the land, and eventually formed the colony of Acadia. (important)

Back to Champlain Champlain was not to be discouraged. He believed that there could be a profitable establishment in Canada. 1608, he led his own expedition up the St. Lawrence. When he arrived at was had been the village of Stadacona, he found no Iroquois peoples, but instead the Algonkians and Montagnais. These natives were hunters from the northern forests.

The trading post at kebec; “where the river gets narrow” The site of Quebec was chosen for its natural fort-like set up; high, towering cliffs. He established a habitation there and made an alliance with the Algonkians and Montanais. He agreed to not trade with the Iroquois, and to fight in wars against them.