The French in North America

What drew the French to North America? Mercantilism Their commodity: furs Beaver Search for Northwest Passage – an all-water route from the Atlantic Ocean across North America to the Pacific Source American Beaver Author Steve from washington, dc, usa

Colonial America in 1754   Copyright 1998, 2012 by David Burns.  All rights reserved.

Jacques Cartier People 1534 Looking for NW Passage Claimed Canada for France Beaver Fur Jacques Cartier

Samuel de Champlain Explored St. Lawrence River 1608 - Founded Quebec as trading post Base for fur trapper next 150 years French fur trappers: Coureurs de bois (wood rangers or wood runners) http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/conflictandchange/images/3/35/V_co_emer_0971Musee_McCord.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130322004744

Interdependence French and Indians grew to depend on each other. Indians hunted or traded for beaver pelts they traded to the French. French supplied Indians with metal tools and weapons Eventually the metal goods became too useful to the Indians do without, and the beaver pelts became too important to the French to do without. Hurons and French

European diseases further decimated Indian populations. Interdependence 2 French fur trappers lived in Indian villages and married Indian women - offspring became the metis. Jesuit priests sent to convert Indians to Catholicism learned their language and lived among them. European diseases further decimated Indian populations.

In 1648-49 Iroquois stormed and destroyed the Huron villages. Conflict Various Indian nations tried to keep others from trading with the French to prevent them from getting metal tools and weapons. As fur-bearing animals were depleted, Indians moved into their neighbors’ territories to hunt, creating conflict. French expected to join Hurons in their fighting against the Iroquois. Result: the Iroquois became bitter enemies of the French. In 1648-49 Iroquois stormed and destroyed the Huron villages.

Cultural Differences The French were scandalized by the Iroquois tradition of “mourning wars.” Captives in mourning wars either adopted or tortured to death and eaten. French did not understand the Indian tradition of gift-giving as a form of ceremony symbolizing friendship and partnership between equals during trade negotiations.

How did the French get Louisiana when they started out in Canada? 1682 Explorer Robert de la Salle explored the entire length of the Mississippi River. Planted a flag at the mouth of the river and claimed the river and all its watersheds for France. French goal: build a network of forts and trading posts to protect the territory.

French Mercantilism Relied on furs which could be sold for specie rather than gold itself. Relied on trade rather than enslavement of Indians Relied on trading posts and forts to hold colonial lands in North America because settlements were very small.