Toward a First Canadian Government

The King has a Problem Very few French people are interested in moving to the new colony King Louis XIV calls his financial advisor, Jean- Baptiste Colbert The king assigns Colbert this problem: “How do we get more people to move to New France?”

The Issues in New France Colbert and his associates come up with this list of issues that hinder further settlement in New France: –Merchants only interested in making money –Few farmers because merchants discourage them (more farms = less furs) –Colonists fear attack from Iroquois –Fur trade losing money (Iroquois are intercepting trades) –Officials in New France are powerless –New France is on its last legs

Colbert’s Solution Colbert suggests to the King: –End the rule of the Company of 100 Associates (a monopoly, remember?) –New France should be a royal colony –Colony should be governed by the King and his ministers –King should provide money &settlers for New France

The Royal Government of New France King Louis XIV liked Colbert’s plan: appointed 3 officials to act on his behalf Governor: responsible for colony security Bishop: oversaw the churches, missions, hospitals & schools Intendant: responsible for law and order, trade, industry, and transportation

Other Colonists Sovereign Council: men who assisted three officials, they were appointed for five years at a time Seigneurs: landowners who carried out the instructions of the king & governors Habitants: settlers who were given pieces of land to work by the seigneurs Habitant cottage.

King Louis XIV / Colbert ▼ Governor (Military) Intendant (Justice/Finances) ▼ Bishop of the Catholic Church ▼ Military officers, merchants, church leaders, seigneurs ▼ Habitants (Filles de Roi) (~97% of population) ▼ Engagés / Domestic Servants / Slaves

Jean Talon Jean Talon - the first Intendant of New France He wasted no time to sort all the problems Talon often disguised himself to talk with colonists in order to find out about their living conditions Talon heard that the main concern of colonists was safety Colonists feared Iroquois attacks

Solving the Safety Issue Jean Talon immediately wrote to King Louis XIV to ask for soldiers to be sent as a security force In 1665, Sieur de Tracy arrived from France with 1500 trained soldiers De Tracy constructed a chain of forts from the St Lawrence River to Lake Champlain to control the Iroquois’ movements

Talon’s Plans for Agriculture Talon met many Habitants living on farms along the St. Lawrence River Many ignored their farms because hunting & trapping was more lucrative Talon encouraged them to spend more time farming On his own farm, Talon experimented with new techniques & seeds to see what grew best in the colony’s climate Horses, cattle & pigs were imported to New France Talon wanted to make sure that the colony could produce enough food to support itself

Talon’s Plans for Industry With financial help from France, he started a shipbuilding yard in 1664 Set up a small iron foundry - iron-ore found near Trois-Rivieres The foundry produced canons, canon balls, pots, hammers & stoves Expanded fisheries, opened a brewery & shoe factory Half of the beer produced was exported for profit Encouraged spinning and the production of wool clothing Unfortunately, French policy said that the colonies could only produce raw materials for export. They were not to engage in their own trade with France Talon Inspects the Ships at Quebec

The First Census In New France, Talon conducted a census (official population count) He discovered that men outnumbered women 2:1 He encouraged young, healthy, single women to move to New France The women could marry the single male colonists These women were called “Les Filles du Roi”

Les Filles du Roi Many were poor orphans but some were from large families in the countryside who were looking for a better life Each woman was given a dowry by the King: an ox, a cow, 2 barrels of salt, beef & money Between , ~ 900 women The single men were threatened that they could not go hunting until all of the “Filles du Roi” were married! The plan worked: within 14 years, the colony grew from 3215 to 9400 people A special allowance was granted to families who had 10+ children This plaque in Quebec is a dedication to these women