Lesson Four The French in Michigan UNIT THREE: THE HISTORY OF MICHIGAN

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The BIG Ideas  About 500 years ago explorers from the continent of Europe were looking for trade routes to China.  Explorers from the country of France began exploring in the Great Lakes region.  The French and American Indians interacted in many ways. For example, they traded with each other, they sometimes married each other, and they learned from each other.  Fur-trading between the French and the American Indians grew.  The country of Britain became interested in the fur trade.

A River Ran Wild  Recall the ‘arrival of the pale-skinned trader.  Although this book refers to events in another state, it similar to events that happened in Michigan.  Similar traders appeared in Michigan; and as a result, American Indian cultures experienced significant changes.  We will discuss who these traders were and where they came from.

 Do you remember how you located things you owned that came from other places as a result of international trade.  Trade between countries is not a new thing.  Over 500 year ago countries were trading goods. Looking Back…

continent one of the seven large land masses on the Earth Example: Europe and North America are both continents.

Europe and China  Goods like silk and spices from China had reached the countries of Europe long ago.  China is a country on the continent of Asia.  Europeans liked these goods very much, but they were scarce in Europe since China was so far away.  Therefore, some people in Europe decided to try and go to China to get more of these goods.

 It was a long way from Europe to China across land.  Was there another way people from Europe could have gotten to China?  Some people decided that since the Earth was round, they could sail to China.  They could sail west around the world and end up in China.

explorer someone who travels in order to discover something Example: Explorers from France came into the region of the Great Lakes.

 Soon explorers from many countries in Europe decided to try to reach China by sailing west.  Like Columbus, these explorers found something was in their way.  Can you identify the barrier was in their way.  The continents of North and South America were unknown to Europeans and the European explorers were trying to reach China. The first person to try this was the explorer, Christopher Columbus.

Instead of sailing to China, these explorers began to explore North America. Some eventually sailed all the way to the Great Lakes. Following these explorers, came the ‘pale- skinned traders’.

France a country on the continent of Europe Example: Explorers from France came to the Great Lakes region

France  Explorers from France came up with an interesting idea.  They thought it would be possible to travel from river to river in North America, and in this way sail across it and on to China.  They began to sail down St. Lawrence River.  They kept going farther and farther and eventually got as far as the Great Lakes.

The French  The French never did find a water route across North America, but they found something else, that was very valuable.  What do you think was the valuable item French explorers discovered in the Great Lakes region?

Beaver is a fur- bearing animal with teeth that can cut down small trees. Why would the French believe beaver to be so valuable?

 Fur clothing, (especially beaver hats), was very popular in Europe at this time.  Beavers had pretty much been hunted to extinction in Europe.  There were not enough of them to make all the hats people wanted.  What economic concept does this refer to?  Scarcity

beaver a small animal whose fur was popular in Europe for hats Example: The French traded American Indians for beaver furs.

scarcity not enough natural resources Example: There was a scarcity of beaver furs in France.

The Fur Trade System  The fur trade system began between American Indians of the Great Lakes region and the French.  Native Americans killed the beavers and other fur bearing animals. They traded the furs to the French for guns, knives, cloth blankets, cooking pots, and other goods. How did this system benefit both sides? (both groups got goods they needed and wanted).  At first the French fur traders would go to Native American villages to trade. Later the French built trading posts. The largest one was located near the Straits of Mackinac. Why do you think the main trading center was located there? (It was in the middle of the Great Lakes system).

LET’S PLACE IT ON THE TIMELINE! THE FUR TRADE BEGAN ABOUT 400 YEARS AGO. The Fur Trade

French explorers were looking for a sailing route to China. These explorers began to explore the Great Lakes region. They did not find a route to China. However, they did find the region was rich in fur-bearing animals. A fur trade began between the Indians of the Great Lakes region and the French. The British also became interested in the fur trade.

voyageur the people who moved the furs through the Great Lakes region Example: Voyageurs traveled by canoes.

Voyageurs  The voyageurs were the people, almost all men, who transported the furs through the Great Lakes to Montreal, Canada where they were shipped to France.  They used canoes to transport the furs. They learned this method of travel from Native Americans.  They paddled up to 18 hours a day and then stopped along the shores each night.  At times they had to portage. This meant they had to carry their canoes, furs, and supplies over land because of rapids or a waterfall.  Their most common food was pemmican, a mixture of meat, grease, and berries.  They sang songs as they paddled to make the time pass, and at night they were known for telling tales filled with exaggeration.

Sometimes historical fiction can help us gain a better picture of the past.

MAKE A PREDICTION WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS BOOK WILL BE ABOUT? “The Voyageur’s Paddle”

Who were the main characters of the book? How had Maries’ people helped Edouard when he first came to the area? What challenges did the voyageurs face? What was it like at the trading post? How did they travel in the winter? What was it that Jacques wanted to do? Why do you think songs were such an important part of voyageur life? What happened at the end of the book?

Story Elements - The Voyageur’s Paddle Main Characters Setting What is the story about? What does this story describe? How does this story help us learn about the past?

Story Elements - The Voyageur’s Paddle Main Characters Setting What is the story about? What does this story describe? How does this story help us learn about the past? Edouard, the father who is a voyageur, Jacques, the son Marie, the mother who is an Ojibwe American Indian The Great Lakes region during the time of the French fur trade The book tells the story of a French voyageur and his family. What life was like for a voyageur and his family What a trading post looked like How voyageurs traveled and collected furs The story helps us understand what life was like for a voyageur and his family during the times of the French fur trade in the Great Lakes region.

 When two different groups of people like the American Indians and the French come together, they can interact in different ways.  Can you identify different types of interaction that were described in the book?  American Indians and French people married each other, they traded with each other, and they shared ideas.

Trade Goods The worth of all trade goods was based on the value of beaver furs. Beaver furs became the currency., or money, during the fur trade. The Value of French Goods French Goods: 1 looking glass = 1 beaver fur 1 hatchet = 1 beaver fur 1 blanket = 3 beaver furs 1 cotton shirt = 3 beaver furs The Value of American Indian Goods and Services American Indian Goods: 1 sack of wild rice = 3 beaver furs 100 white fish = 6 beaver furs 15 pounds of bear grease = 4 beaver furs American Indian Services: For dressing 6 deerskins = 2 beaver furs For lacing 4 pairs of snowshoes = 2 beaver furs

Problems to Solve  An American Indian laced 8 pairs of snowshoes. How many beaver furs would this be worth?  If an American Indian family wanted to trade for 1 looking glass, 1 blanket, and 1 cotton shirt. How many beaver furs would they need?  An American Indian brought a sack of wild rice and 100 white fish to the trading post. How many beaver furs were his goods worth?  If an American Indian laced four pairs of snowshoes, would he be able to trade for a blanket? Explain your answer.  If an American Indian brought in a sack of wild rice to trade could he trade for a cotton shirt? Explain your answer

Problems to Solve Answers  An American Indian laced 8 pairs of snowshoes. How many beaver furs would this be worth? = 4 beaver furs If an American Indian family wanted to trade for 1 looking glass, 1 blanket, and 1 cotton shirt. How many beaver furs would they need? = 7 beaver furs  An American Indian brought a sack of wild rice and 100 white fish to the trading post. How many beaver furs were his goods worth? = 9 beaver furs  If an American Indian laced four pairs of snowshoes, would he be able to trade for a blanket? Explain your answer. No, because lacing 4 pairs of snowshoes was only equal to 2 beaver furs.  If an American Indian brought in a sack of wild rice to trade could he trade for a cotton shirt? Explain your answer Yes, because a sack of rice was equal to 3 beaver furs and a cotton shirt was equal to 3 beaver furs.

missionary someone who travels to a new place to teach their religion to people Example: Father Marquette was a missionary and explorer.

Missionaries Some other French people followed the explorers and traders. They were religious people called missionaries who wanted to tell Native Americans about their God. Father Marquette, a famous missionary, was also an explorer.  He founded a mission at Sault Ste. Marie in 1668, which became the first European settlement in Michigan. He moved his mission to St. Ignace in 1671, which became the second settlement.

Human/Environment Interaction What were some ways the French used the environment of ? What were some ways the French adapted to the environment of ? What were some ways the French changed the environment of ?

Human/Environment Interaction What were some ways the French used the environment of ? What were some ways the French adapted to the environment of ? What were some ways the French changed the environment of ?  They used rivers and lakes for travel.  They used trees for many different things including houses and canoes.  They used beaver furs for hats.  They learned to adapt to the four seasons of Michigan.  They built houses using the natural resources around them.  They learned how to use rivers and lakes as highways.  They cleared land to create forts and trading posts.  They cut down trees to make things like houses and canoes.  They were responsible for the removal of a large number of animals especially beavers.

timeline a diagram that shows the order in which events happened Example: You can make a timeline of important events in your life

modifying the environment when people change the environment to fit them Example: People in Michigan modified the environment by cutting down trees to clear land for farming.

American Indians The first people to live on the land which became the United States Example: American Indians are also known as Native Americans.

adapting to the natural environment when people change to fit the environment Example: People in Michigan wear warm coats, hats, and mittens to fit the environment in winter.

Britain a country on the continent of Europe Example: British people from Britain became interested in the fur trade.

The French were exploring the Great Lakes region, people from another country in Europe -- Britain -- were exploring and claiming land along the Atlantic coast.  The French and the British had been longtime enemies.  The French and the British were very competitive.  The British learned that the French were making a lot of money on the fur trade in the Great Lakes region.

What do you think will happen next?

Teacher Resources Visit the White Oak Society Website, which is filled with information about the fur trade. It is located at the following address:. Share information from the October 2004 Issue of The Mitten, which was about the fur trade. Share information from the Fall 2001 Issue of Michigan History for Kids, which was about the French in Michigan.

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