French Migration 1620+

Pull Factor The main pull factor for ppl (men) was the fur trade. In order to sustain the fur trade it was felt that PERMANENT SETTLEMENT had to be established, and more ppl than just FUR TRADERS would need to come to New France. There were TWO MAJOR GROUPS of ppl that had a great impact towards early French settlements. They were: Merchants missionaries

Merchants and Missionaries Were ppl who were involved in the BUSINESS of the fur trade. In fact, the Company of New France started to give out INCENTIVES for ppl to come to the colony from France. This was generally done through INDENTURED LABOUR Indentured labour meant that upon arrival to New France you would work for SOMEONE ELSE for a 3-5 year period. After that time was up, you would become eligible to work your own piece of land.

The Company of New France (aka “leaders in charge of NF) would also donate land for the purpose of free settlement. This is how the city of Montreal was formed. Along with the merchants, MISSIONARIES (Jesuit Priests) were significant to the immigration wave because of the large numbers that came for the purpose of ABORIGINAL conversion. They were also instrumental in the day to day RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES in the colony.

King Louis and the Filles de Roi- Population and Protection in NF The POPULATION in the colony of NF remained quite low between 1620 and 1665 because a large number of the population was comprised of MEN. In 1666, under the initiation of the French King, LOUIS XIV, the colony was to under go some changes, namely in population.

The Filles Du Roi (population) Aka The Kings Daughters, were women from FRANCE, usually ORPHANS, or from low status families. They were round up and transferred to NF so that the population could NATURALLY INCREASE. Couples who married could be eligible for a LAND GRANT as a reward for marriage.

Carignan-Salieres Troops (protection) King Louis also dispatched a large number of FRENCH MILITARY troops to NF to protect the colony from IROQUOIS RAIDS. This safety feature allowed more ppl from FRANCE to comfortably immigrate to the colony.

Conclusion to all of this mumbo jumbo? In all, between the years of 1620-1680, about 10,000 ppl immigrated to New France from France and stayed on a PERMANENT basis. It is obvious that this wave of immigration was a significant contributor to the BILINGUAL country that we have today!