Life in New France Canadian History

Key Points in this Lecture I. Quebec and the fur trade (1608)  The Company of 100 Associates (Company of New France) II. Louis XIV and the Creation of New France  Government  Military  The Seigneurial System:  Engagés and slaves  Filles de Roi III. Population growth IV. Women in New France  Gender roles  Women and the Law  Women Religious

Company of 100 Associates Created in 1627 by Cardinal Richelieu Given control of fur trade In return had to populate New France “The general spirit of government ought to lean in the direction of gentleness, it being dangerous to employ severity against transplanted peoples, far removed from their prince, and to hazard using an absolute power founded only on their obedience, because having once found a means of resisting they would quickly forget respect and submission.” King Louis’ instructions.

Cardinal Richelieu

Company of 100 Associates Cancelled in 1663 by Louis XIV They had not fulfilled their part of the bargain Appointed Jean-Baptiste Colbert

Jean-Baptiste Colbert

Government of New France Hierarchical and rigidly structured 2 most powerful people:  Governor  Intendant Third most powerful was the Bishop

Louis XIV/Colbert ▼ Governor (Military) Intendant (Justice/Finances) ▼ Bishop of the Catholic Church ▼ Military officers, merchants, church leaders, seigneurs ▼ Habitants (Filles de Roi) ( % of population) ▼ Engagés/Domestic Servants/Slaves

Jean Talon and Remy de Courcelle

Catholic Church Bishop appointed by King Church disproved of sin Rules of the Church often reflected in secular law as well Church and state therefore linked

Military An important institution Officers were part of New France elite Non-officers were not Military also hierarchical

Citizenship in New France Administrators held the authority and kept control along with seigneurs and military. Catholic teachings meant it was a paternalistic society. Citizens could rise in class status however in New France:  A commoner could become a seigneur, a military commander or a bishop unlike in “Old France” and traditions changed because people came from different regions of France and Aboriginal influence.

Seigneurial System A system of land distribution Seigneurs – noblemen – owned the land and “rented” it to habitants Seigneurs had to:  be loyal to the King  bring settlers to NF from France to settle and farm this land called a seigneurie

Seigneurial System

Responsibilities of Seigneurs By 1740 there were over 200 seigneurs on both sides of the St. Lawrence Build roads Build a mill and an oven for making bread Held a court where he was responsible for settling any disputes that might arise Habitants could not be evicted from their land nor could they be prevented from selling their lands. If a seigneur could not fulfill duties he could lose his land so many got involved in the fur trade to off-set income.

Habitants The habitant owed his seigneur three or four days free labour each year– this obligation was called a corvée. This was considerably less than peasants in France owed their lords. The habitant was responsible for keeping the section of road (built by the seigneur) which crossed his land in good condition. The habitant gave one bag of flour for every 14 in payment for the use of the seigneur's mill The habitant had to pay rent – in money, if it was available, but more often in the form of farm produce or fish or some material good The habitant also paid a tithe for the upkeep of a church and its priest.

80 % of the population were habitants Life reflected the harsh realities of a Canadian climate:  Winter: cutting firewood and tending to animals  Spring: repair fences and roads, plough and seed the land, pasture the animals  Summer: collect hay, harvest the crop and mill the grain  Fall: store grain, bring in the animals, store provisions Family and home was important for habitants. Home was a place for socializing, card playing, music and dancing.

Engage (indentured servants) Not habitant or soldier… Poor unmarried young men Worked as servants – 3 year contracts Could not marry Could not conduct trade Could be beaten or killed Many left, but many stayed in New France

Slaves New France had slaves – established in in Montreal Some Africans, but most were Natives Not like slavery of US south Often domestic servants and unpaid labour

Filles du Roi Most in New France were men King brings over women to marry men 770 in total Most young (under 25), most orphans

Population Growth 1660s: 3, s: 10, s: 75,000

Reasons for Population Growth High fertility – Talon and church encouraged lots of children. 300 livres/yr for 10 kids and 400 livres of 12 or more kids Low mortality Social conditions – by law bachelors had to marry Filles du Roi under penalty of losing fishing or hunting rights or engage in the fur trade. Longer life spans

Gender in New France Society was patriarchal But habitant life sometimes blurred the boundaries between men’s and women’s work Gender roles more sharply defined for nobles

Women and Law Women had some protections under French law Women were expected to care for children and produce food.

Religious Women 3.7 % of women in New France joined religious orders Were not cloistered The Ursuline Nuns ran a hospital

Ursuline Nuns

Aboriginals under Royal Rule “Throughout the history of New France, the French policy towards [Aboriginal Peoples] was consistent: treat them with every consideration, avoid violence… and transform them into Frenchmen.” Olive Dickason The French put up with their different way of life due to the fur trade and for protection from the Iroquois, but they did not give up on assimilating them. They hoped that by converting them to Catholicism, the hierarchy would make them ready to follow French society Intermarriage backfired, as most often the husband seemed to acclimatize to the Aboriginal way of life and not the other way around