The French in the New World

New France  Established by Samuel de Champlain in 1608  New France was the present-day Canadian province of Quebec French is still the primary language in Quebec

French Explorers  The French explored the Midwest Called Voyageurs  Robert LaSalle - The entire Mississippi River Claims New Orleans for France

French Influence in New Orleans

Marquette  Marquette and Joliet – Explored much of the Mississippi and connected it to the Great Lakes  Marquette – a Jesuit priest and the name of an absolutely FANTASTIC university

Right Marquette, Wrong Marquette Wrong Right

Right Marquette, Wrong Marquette Right Wrong

Right Marquette, Wrong Marquette Wrong Right

French Fur Trade  France made most of its money in New France off trading furs and pelts  Beaver skins were especially valuable and French trappers, a person who traps animals for their fur, travel across much New France looking for beavers While traveling French trappers set up trading posts that became cities and established relationships with the Native Americans

French and Native American Relations  Of all the European countries, France treated the Native Americans the best, by far.  Unlike the Spanish and British, who tried to change the Native Americans by making them convert to Christianity or make them slaves, the French respected the native’s culture  French men learned the native’s language and customs, some took native women as wives.  Made sure there would be peace and made the natives strong allies of the French  Remember: The French NEVER tried to change the Native Americans in New France. They were needed as fur trading partners.

Carroting – the Mad Hatter’s disease. Caused by Mercury poisoning.

Fur and Felt vs. Cost of Living Fur and Felt in 1760  24 hats was thus £13.4s  55 pence per hat Basically a month’s rent Living in Britain 1760  Rent a home for a year 10 pounds  Rent a room for a night 2 pence  Middle class salary 15 pounds a year

The Profitablity of the Fur Trade  Between , 21 million pelts were traded in Europe  Huge demand and increase over the century  1700 = 69,000 hats in Britain  1770 = 870,000 hats  Sales to Portugal alone in 1760 = 89,000 pounds 15,664,000 pounds by todays money $27 million

This is called supply and demand. -Supply goes down -Price goes up How could the decline in beaver populations lead to later problems between the French and British? - Decline in beaver populations…Is it too late now to say sorry? Cause I’m missing more than your pelt - The beavers are gone…what do you mean? - My mama don’t like you and she likes beaver hats

The Dutch in North America  The Dutch tried to reach Asia using the Northwest Passage  The Dutch failed to find the passage, but claimed New Amsterdam, now New York City. Claimed by Henry Hudson