European Colonization of North America - a final overview

Things to Consider Why do Americans celebrate Columbus Day and name US cities after him, while Canada does not? The Vikings had settlements in Newfoundland long before Columbus arrived Why don’t Canadians celebrate Viking Day?

Europe Conquers the Americas How was European contact like war? Europeans sought to conquer the land for settlement and resources Tried to subdue or assimilate the people they found there The Spanish decimated entire Aboriginal nations and the Americans waged open warfare on the “Indians” In Canada, more peaceful methods were used, but the results were the same

The Lure of the “New World” Europeans were drawn to North America by opportunities to acquire wealth Fishing and fur trading were big business Also seeking freedom from social, religious, and political persecution (such as the Pilgrims who settled in Massachusetts) These explorers and settlers did not care that the land was already occupied by Native peoples

The Lure of the “New World”

The Lure of the “New World”

New France “New France” was the area of North America colonized by France between 1534 (when Jacques Cartier first explored along the St. Lawrence River) and 1763 (when France gave up its land to Spain and Great Britain) In 1608, Samuel de Champlain founded the city of Quebec Champlain allied himself as soon as possible with the Algonquin and Huron peoples in the area, who were at war with the Iroquois In 1609, Champlain participated in a battle against the Iroquois, shooting and killing two Iroquois chiefs

Jesuit Missionaries The French Catholic Church was one of the dominant forces in New France Jesuit missionaries (known as “black robes”) travelled the Great Lakes region, converting many of the Huron natives to Christianity The presence of the Jesuits in Huron society was non-negotiable The Huron relied on French goods and the French would refuse to trade with any Native communities that shunned the Jesuits The missionaries came into conflict with the Iroquois, who frequently attacked Montreal When Huron communities were hit by disease epidemics, it was often the “black robes” who were blamed

Coureurs de Bois Coureurs de bois (“runners of the woods”) were young men from New France who travelled north and west to buy furs directly from the Natives They were adventurers who needed to be skilled at business, canoeing, fishing, snowshoeing, and hunting They made friends with Native peoples, learning their language and customs Sometimes, they married and raised children with Native women This helped the men survive in a difficult environment, develop commercial contacts, and be accepted by Native communities

The Métis The first Métis were the children of First Nations women and French coureurs de bois, or other European trappers and traders Trading loyalties were established when a European married into a First Nation – many native families planned to have at least one daughter marry a European The descendants of these unions formed communities, first around hunting, trapping and fur trading, that to this day have a unique and specific culture The term "Métis" does not mean any white person who believes they also have some Native ancestry It refers to specific communities of Aboriginal people and their culture The Métis are recognized today as one of Canada’s three Native groups

The Fur Trade The English created the Hudson Bay Company in 1670 and gave it a monopoly over fur trade with the First Nations The HBC acted as the government in large parts of North America before there was large-scale settlement This led to rivalries with the French, who were also heavily involved in the fur trade As a result, many Native people were forced to choose sides and became totally reliant on trade with the French and English

European Ethnocentrism Early explorers and settlers described Native Americans as “wild” and “savage” because they were not civilized according to European standards Most Europeans did not try to understand Native customs and culture They failed to understand that many Native cultures were just as well organized and “civilized” as many European cultures of the time

Mutual Benefits Despite these prejudices, early relations between Europeans and Natives were generally positive The first white settlers struggled to adapt to the unfamiliar conditions in North America Native people helped Europeans by: Teaching them how to dress properly and build living accommodations Teaching them how to fight disease and grow native plants Showing them how to reach the interior of the continent Trading with them and introducing them to Native communities Natives benefited from the introduction of European trade goods (like iron tools, guns, needles and thread) and the wealth generated by the fur trade

Acculturation vs. Assimilation Acculturation is a natural process that occurs when individuals from different backgrounds get acquainted and share their cultures Each side may incorporate some aspects of the other group into their way of life (and get the best of both cultures) However, European culture was also imposed on Natives, often by force This process is called assimilation, when a cultural group is absorbed by another and loses its own traditions

Changing Attitudes At first, there were many more Native people than Europeans Native people in this early period were a critical part of everyday life Even though diseases had greatly reduced their populations, Natives were still a potent military threat – and a significant part of colonial economies The English and French both established diplomatic ties with Native groups However, as immigrants began to arrive in greater numbers, the Europeans changed their approach and became more insistent in their claims to Native land