New France

 Though only people moved permanently to the colony, the birth rate was very high.  By 1760, the population in New France was bout  The birth rate helped compensate for the low immigration rate. Is the situation the same today in Quebec?

 The natural growth rate in the colony was 25 per thousand.  The natural growth rate in France was 3 per thousand.  The abundance of food and the quality of water helped contribute to the relative good health of the colonists.

CORNELIUS KRIEGHOFF FLIRTING WHILE BRAIDING STRAW HATS, oil on canvas, signed and dated “Quebec, 1852”

 Beginning in the 1600s, European presence and trade activities had a significant impact on the growth of the Aboriginal population.

 It fuelled conflicts between groups (over fur trade and territory).  Created conditions that were condusive to the spread of disease.  The French colony gradually encroached on the Aboriginal nations’ territory.

 Aboriginals were exposed to diseases of European origin and they were unable to combat them.  Ex: Small pox, typhus, cholera, and chickenpox  As a result, Aboriginals died in great numbers.

 Aboriginals slowly began to develop immunity to the diseases.  Some aboriginal groups moved further north, and the Inuit had very little contact with the French.

 In Aboriginal culture, commercial trade was often accompanied by a political and military alliance.  French then became allies with the Huron and Algonquins and helped them to fight against their enemies, the Iroquois. Iroquois chief

 Read document 60 on page 38.  What were the effects of conflicts between Aboriginal peoples on Aboriginal populations in the area?

 After many years of conflicts, the Iroquois finally made peace with the French and their Aboriginal allies.  In 1701, they signed the Great Peace Treaty of Montreal.  During future conflicts between France and England, the Iroquois remained neutral.

 The social organization in Canada was based on the system in France and was known as the 3 orders: The nobility The clergy The Third Estate

 Given the low level of immigration, New France had few wealthy people.  The colony was governed by a few members of the French nobility and representatives from the clergy.  It was much easier to gain upward social mobility in Canada than in France. So prosperous farmers could hope to become a seigneur and be given a title.

 90 % of the Canadian population was part of the Third Estate  This included farmers, artisans and small-scale merchants. How did the population occupy the territory?

 Slaves  Aboriginals  Protestants

 The royal administration legalized the practice of slavery.  There were between 2000 and 3000 slaves during the French regime.  Most were from Aboriginal nations that were enemies of the French.  African slaves were also common in the Southern part of New France.

 French authorities and missionaries tried to assimilate Aboriginal nations, but marriages between the 2 groups was still rare.  In the 18th century, Canada’s administration pronounced itself against these unions.

 Only about 10% of immigrants were Protestant.  Most of them were soldiers.  After the creation of the Company of One Hundred associates, Protestants were no longer allowed to settle in the territory.

 Through trade, Aboriginal peoples adopted products of European origin.  Textiles and metal objects were the most popular itemss.  While this trade made life easier (axes, kettles, knives), for many it did not have much of an impact on their culture.

 However, the way of life for the domociliés did change. Converted to the Catholic religion Adopted the French language Started raising animals

 They abandoned their longhouses where extended families lived together.  Moved into wooden houses similar to those of the colonists.  These much smaller homes broke the traditional organization of the family.

 The colonist eventually created a social, political and economic organization that was similar to France.  However, Aboriginal presence and the harsh climate forced to colonists to make modifications to certain aspects of their way of life.

 Because of this, people in Canada developed a distinct identity from people in France.  Colonists began to see themselves as Canadiens.