CANADA: Creating a Nation

Context: The People Aboriginal people who had occupied the land from time immemorial French explorers who came to the territory to participate in the fur trade

Context: The People English settlers who wanted to expand the land for farming Immigrants who had been displaced by war/ searching for a better life

Early Exploration 1. Vikings sailed to Newfoundland evidence found in sagas and artifacts viking settlement at L’anse aux Meadow not a large population and did not settle for long

2. Jacques Cartier French explorer looking for Northwest Passage Soon found Newfoundland and continued to New Brunswick and P.E.I. Kidnapped two Iroquois men (sons of a chief) to act as guides

The French King, King Francis I, believes that the relationship between Cartier and the Iroquois will lead to great trade opportunities The French begin to settle Harsh winter conditions Strained relationships with the Iroquois Early attempts of French colonization failed

The Fur Trade and New France

Before there was Canada, there was…

The French initially considered the role of the colony was to support the home country and not for settlement Europeans were profiting from fish Another resource emerged – beautiful beaver furs

The Fur Trade the fur trade was a commercial network that expanded across what is now Canada. From the early 17th to the mid-19th centuries, fur was very fashionable all over Europe. French traders trapped beavers to satisfy the European demand for hats

French began setting up trading posts but they moved around often in search of furs their main trading post was Montreal

Aboriginal communities also liked the idea of trading furs They received goods in return for furs In the beginning, the fur trade benefited both French and Aboriginal people as a way to supplement income from fishing and hunting.

Samuel Champlain Sailor and navigator creates a small trading post called Port Royal and later Quebec Finds himself in an ongoing war between Algonkians and Montagnias vs. Iroquois