Unit 2: NEW FRANCE

Earliest Voyages to Canada from Europe Possible Irish approach - St. Brendan c. 600 AD Norse from Iceland c AD –did not stay long –Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland Cabot in 1497 to Labrador and Newfoundland

Two Kinds of Contact Regular fishing trips from Western Europe Expeditions sent by kings

Fishing Trips Yearly trips to Grand Banks off Newfoundland by fishing ships from Western Europe Ships stayed for the summer, and camped onshore to salt the fish Trade with local Aboriginal people We don’t know much about these voyages

Expeditions sent by kings Pure exploring expeditions were sent by kings of Western Europe in the hope of finding riches, as the Spanish had done in Mexico and Peru England sent Cabot in 1497, and then lost interest Portuguese explored around Newfoundland and Nova Scotia Francis I of France sent expeditions in 1524 and again in 1534

Verrazano Italian sailor, like Columbus and Cabot, hired by Francis I of France to seek lands and riches in New World in 1524 Sailed along the east coast of North America claimed land for France and named it New France Jacques Cartier may have sailed with Verrazano

Cartier’s First Voyage: 1534 Sailed through Strait of Belle Isle into the Gulf of St. Lawrence Met Native people ready to trade furs Met Donnacona, Iroquoian leader, at Gaspé claimed the land for France took two Natives back to France

Cartier at Gaspé

Cartier’s First Voyage: 1534

Cartier’s Second Voyage: Went straight to St. Lawrence River with help of Native guides Found Stadacona at site of Quebec Called region Canada - from kanata (town or settlement in the Iroquoian language)

Went upriver to Hochelaga - Montreal now Returned to Stadacona for the winter

Survived scurvy with help of Native tea Learned of Kingdom of Saguenay kidnapped Donnacona and 4 other leaders

Cartier’s Second Voyage :

Cartier’s Third Voyage: Again sailed to Stadacona – purpose – to establish a French colony in Canada None of Iroquois captives returned with the French built a fort attacked by Iroquois at Stadacona found only quartz and fool’s gold rest of the expedition stayed the following year The French left, and did not return for sixty years

Postscript Cartier continued to advise others about Canada and the New World until his death Fishermen continued to go every year to Newfoundland and the St. Lawrence trade onshore became more important - particularly fur trade St. Lawrence Iroquoians disappeared from history - not there in 1603

Samuel de Champlain Born in 1567 in Brouage, France learned of New World from sailors coming into the port studied navigation under his father became Geographer to the king

Early exploration explored shores of St.Lawrence, identifying suitable sites for settlement made a settlement in Acadia Port Royal (New Brunswick and Nova Scotia) learned to live in Canadian conditions - Order of Good Cheer mapped coastline of Nova Scotia

Quebec Moved headquarters to Quebec in 1608 Built the Habitation Site was very important –high cliffs made it difficult to capture –St. Lawrence narrows – controls boats going further upriver –St. Lawrence best route to centre of North America

The Inland Fur Trade made trade partnerships with Algonquins, Montagnais and Hurons travelled to Lake Champlain with these partners became involved in battle with Mohawks - one of the five nations of the Iroquois League Iroquois became enemies of the French and the Hurons

Inland Exploration coureurs de bois - young Frenchmen who stayed with the Huron and Algonquins, learned their languages, helped direct furs to Quebec

Inland Exploration inland expedition up Ottawa River to Lake Huron and Huronia wounded and defeated in a second battle with the Iroquois stayed with the Huron for the winter recording their customs

Development of the colony Louis Hébert - first farmer brought European crops and animals to New France Jesuits arrived to minister to the colonists and to the Aboriginal peoples need to get solid financial support for the colony - travelled to Paris Cardinal Richelieu - head of French government- helped Champlain form the Company of 100 Associates, to continue to develop the fur trade and the settlement

Loss and Return of the Colony English fleet captured Quebec - Champlain sent back to France England gave Quebec back to France - Champlain returned to rebuild Champlain died on Christmas Day -

Champlain: The Father of New France Explored and mapped Acadia, St. Lawrence and southern Great Lakes Established the colony in Acadia Established Quebec – excellent, defensive site Established the inland fur trade and alliances Brought in farmers Brought in priests Set up Company of 100 Associates

The Company of Hundred Associates A private company set up to develop New France monopoly of the fur trade promised to bring in 4000 settlers would distribute land to settlers using the seigneurial system – two levels of people –Seigneurs – wealthy landowner with a large piece of land, and duty to govern farmers –Habitants – settlers who owed loyalty and obedience to their seigneur

The Seigneurial System Seigneur granted a large piece of land Land was normally along a major river (St. Lawrence River or Richelieu River) Seigneur required to find and bring out settlers (habitants) Seigneur gave each habitant a long thin strip of land Seigneur built a mill Seigneur acted as judge in settling disputes

Duties of the Habitant Build a house clear and cultivate the land bring wheat to the mill and give one- fourteenth to the seigneur give three or four days labour to the seigneur each year pay tithes to the parish priest

Difficulties of the Hundred Associates Unable to get more than 2000 settlers fur trade wars with the Iroquois destruction of trade partners, the Huron opposition of the missionaries attacks by the Iroquois on the settlements of New France - even Montreal Louis XIV took personal control of the government of France

Louis XIV – The Sun King

Louis XIV You are Louis XIV, young, newly in power, full of ambition. France is the most powerful nation in Europe. You want: 1.a successful and prosperous New France 2.to keep and expand the fur trade 3.to develop the cities of New France 4.to have a large, stable population in New France 5.to keep New France safe from the British 6.to keep New France safe from the Iroquois 7.to make farming successful, so you don't have to continue paying to feed New France.

But..... a.the population is small (under 2000) b.the companies in charge of New France carry on the profitable fur trade, but don't bring in enough settlers c.settlers are not being attracted to New France d.the Iroquois in 1649 destroyed your Huron allies e.The Iroquois are now attacking New France f.the private companies in charge of New France have no answers - they are losing control g.the church is arguing with the fur companies. Assignment 1.In a group, discuss this problem. Decide what you, as king of France, with unlimited power, would do. 2.Write your plan. Entitle it “Royal Policy for Our Colony in New France”

Royal Government Direct rule from the king in Paris, through three officials: –governor –intendant –bishop The three officials each wrote reports, as a way of controlling the actions of the other officials

The Governor In charge of defence In charge of relations with Native peoples, and the English Ceremonial head of the colony Frontenac - gave the colony security at the end of the 17th century by dominating the Iroquois on the Great Lakes, and defeating the English

Military Solutions Sent professional soldiers to deal with Iroquois Burnt Mohawk villages Made peace with Iroquois after show of force Developed the militia - an effective military system using coureurs de bois and Native allies built forts to restrict English expansion

The Intendant In charge of the daily affairs of the colony –trade –industries –population Talon - The Great Intendant - strengthened the colony after the problems of the Company of 100 Associates

Economic Solutions Encouraged settlers with free land and pay Encouraged professional soldiers to stay as settlers higher wages for tradesmen filles du roi – wives for settlers – given dowry by the king encouraged large families – special privileges 1672 – population up to 10,000 Encouraged industries – tannery, brewery, ship- building, fishery

The Bishop Head of the Church Church was far more important in New France –priests –missionaries –schools –hospitals –charity Roman Catholic population was very religious

New France Slowly grew from 2000 to 60,000 Vast empire around the Great Lakes and the Mississippi Empire held by trade alliances with Native peoples Military forts at the edge of British territory confining the Thirteen Colonies

Colonial War Britain and France were enemies Britain’s colonies in America had far larger population Britain growing very powerful with overseas empire, strong navy and wealth from trade British wanted to expand west - French built forts France built Louisbourg to protect Gulf of St. Lawrence

The Seven Year’s War French tried to contain British by building forts - Duquesne, Carillon French and allies had success at first against British commanders William Pitt - three pronged attack –West in Ohio Valley –Central front on Lake Champlain –Naval attack through St.Lawrence

The Fall of Quebec Pitt mustered a huge fleet Louisbourg was captured Wolfe took Quebec at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham Montreal surrendered - New France now in British hands Treaty of Paris - French lands (except St. Pierre and Miquelon) become British