Chapter 4: The Fur Trade Social Studies 7

You Already Know… In Chapter 2 we learned about trade relationships between the Mi’kmaq an the Europeans You also learned about contact between Jacques Cartier and Mi’kmaq and Stadaconan people. What else do you know/remember?

Economic Competition and the Fur Trade Economic competition played a central role in the development of the fur trade. In economic competition, “winning” means controlling more wealth than other people.

Phase 1:The Early Fur Trade 1500-1603 The cod fishery began the early fur trade First nations traded with Europeans who fished along the east coast. Europeans did not set up colonies yet, they just went ashore to replenish water and dry fish.

Competition affecting the Environment for First Nations Increased competition means people are pushing harder to have more that other people. This leads to more animals, such as the beaver, being hunted and trapped. The First Nations relied on the beaver

Competition affecting the need for technology for the First Nations Competition would drive more efficient ways of hunting and trapping. Technologies such as guns and traps were being developed far beyond the primitive tools the First Nations were using at the time. First Nations could not keep up with changes.

Competition affecting the way the First Nations used the land. Competition would focus First Nations on trapping for trade only. First Nations disregarded their old ways of trapping and hunting to support their needs. Eventually led to a shortage in food, clothing and shelters.

Competition affecting family life for the First Nations By focusing First Nations peoples on trapping and trading, competitions would change the way people supported their families. First Nations peoples supported their families less as they were required to provide for the fur trade more.