What was life actually like in new france? SS 9

The seigneurial system Seigneurs (lords were granted land Habitants (the peasant far mers) were allowed to farm the land Habitants had to provide fees (rent) and services (till the seigneur’s land, be in the militia…)

The seigneur Had to build and live in a manor house Settle any disputes (hold court) Attract new settlers Build a mill Have an army (militia) ready in case

The habitants (“habs”) Life based around the farm Men worked the fields Women did, too, and they also had many children to raise Younger people worked in fur trade

Spring Crops planted, sugar harvested from sugar maples Fishing began

Summer Habitants weeded and tended their fields Cut wood Cleared wasteland

Fall Harvest time – crops were gathered Animals slaughtered & preserved for winter eating

Winter A lot of down time Singing, dancing, & story- telling popular pastimes Some winter trapping/fishing, but not a lot hauling water from the river for bathing, cooking, and drinking was an ongoing task Chopping wood was also a regular job

Food Habitants ate well (unlike many back home in France) Four meals a day Pigs, chickens, ducks, geese, and some cows raised on farms Milk, butter, cheese Peas were an important crop – PEA soup FISH a common dish Lots of berries and other fruits

Homes Built by hand Back-breaking work Neighbours & relatives helped Stone foundation laid first, then squared timbers laid one on top of the other Mix of sand, lime, and water (mortar) filled the cracks Roof was series of overlapping planks Windows small – make of oiled skins or greased paper Wooden shutters kept out the rain Lots of wood available Also, wood is a better insulator Stone was less common but safer vs. fire

Women of New France Helped in fields with planting, harvesting Cared for huge veggie garden Stored produce for the winter in root cellars Helped feed animals, and milk cows Spun yarn, made cloth Made clothing, rugs, blankets, soap, candles, meals Taught children to read and write Helped run businesses if living in town Had more rights than in France – could trade clothes, blankets, tools, guns, & brandy w/Native peoples in exchange for pelts Could also take over possessions and running the business if husband died

How’d they travel around? Other than walking, the ST. Lawrence River was the main highway of New France Birchbark canoes Also they build freight rafts called cajeu Made of rough pieces of wood nailed together, they held loads of grain, furniture, or even cattle They could not make it (or be portaged) around rapids, so they were left on the riverbank for others to use Horse-pulled sleighs used in winter Roads very poor. Most didn’t want to build them as the building took them away from their farms…and they had the river already Eventually, as more seigneuries were built, away from the river, roads became necessary