Life In New France

The Role of the Church New France was a commercial colony but in the eyes of the church it was also a religious outpost New France was a commercial colony but in the eyes of the church it was also a religious outpost The Catholic Church made it their goal to convert aboriginal people to the Roman Catholic faith The Catholic Church made it their goal to convert aboriginal people to the Roman Catholic faith Missionaries were some of the first to migrate to New France Missionaries were some of the first to migrate to New France

The Role of the Church (con’t) The most aggressive of these were the Jesuits who arrived in 1625 The most aggressive of these were the Jesuits who arrived in 1625 They concentrated mostly on the Huron and established a permanent mission Huronia in 1634 They concentrated mostly on the Huron and established a permanent mission Huronia in 1634 The Huron resisted conversion and after a small pox outbreak wanted the missionaries to leave The Huron resisted conversion and after a small pox outbreak wanted the missionaries to leave Fear of losing their trade partnership with the French made them reconsider Fear of losing their trade partnership with the French made them reconsider

The Role of the Church (con’t) The Church was for the colonists also The Church was for the colonists also The colony was divided into parishes with each parish having a priest and a church The colony was divided into parishes with each parish having a priest and a church Some parishes even had schools Some parishes even had schools Colonists supported the church by paying tithes Colonists supported the church by paying tithes The first Bishop of New France founded a seminary for the training of young priests The first Bishop of New France founded a seminary for the training of young priests

The Role of the Church (con’t) This has now become Laval University in Quebec City This has now become Laval University in Quebec City The church also carried out other roles The church also carried out other roles Parish Priests would act as teachers Parish Priests would act as teachers Orders of Nursing sisters established hospitals Orders of Nursing sisters established hospitals The church cared for the sick and the poor The church cared for the sick and the poor This gave New France a considerable social welfare system This gave New France a considerable social welfare system

Government and Military Two men held most of the power in New France they were the governor and the intendant Two men held most of the power in New France they were the governor and the intendant The intendant saw to the daily working of the colony The intendant saw to the daily working of the colony –Courts –Roads –Social Welfare –Public Order

Government and Military (con’t) The Governor was the king’s representative The Governor was the king’s representative He dealt with external matters He dealt with external matters –Relationships with the natives and English Colonies –Military matters New France was a militarized society New France was a militarized society Between 1608 and 1760 New France had only 50 years of peace Between 1608 and 1760 New France had only 50 years of peace

Government and Military (con’t) Every male colonist was a soldier Every male colonist was a soldier The Iroquois practiced guerilla warfare The Iroquois practiced guerilla warfare Farm families were at risk and had to fight fiercely – women sometimes had to fight as well Farm families were at risk and had to fight fiercely – women sometimes had to fight as well In 1669 the population was organized into militia units under a captain for each parish In 1669 the population was organized into militia units under a captain for each parish

Government and Military (con’t) They could respond quickly in case of an attack They could respond quickly in case of an attack There were also regular soldiers stationed in New France after 1660 There were also regular soldiers stationed in New France after 1660 The soldiers brought more money with them for forts and supplies The soldiers brought more money with them for forts and supplies

Farm Life The majority of the colonists were farmers The majority of the colonists were farmers They had very little wealth or political power They had very little wealth or political power All of the land was owned by the crown and was granted to land lords assuming that they would perform certain duties All of the land was owned by the crown and was granted to land lords assuming that they would perform certain duties The landlords were known as Seigneurs The landlords were known as Seigneurs Their chief responsibility was to have the land cleared and settled Their chief responsibility was to have the land cleared and settled

Farm Life (con’t) Tennant farmers paid rent but this was quite low as land was plentiful and farmers could easily enough join the fur trade Tennant farmers paid rent but this was quite low as land was plentiful and farmers could easily enough join the fur trade Seigneurs enjoyed high status but little wealth for these reasons Seigneurs enjoyed high status but little wealth for these reasons The seigniorial system was an agent of colonization The seigniorial system was an agent of colonization Wheat was the principle crop of the colonists Wheat was the principle crop of the colonists

Farm Life (con’t) They also grew other grains to feed livestock, vegetables, tobacco, and fruit They also grew other grains to feed livestock, vegetables, tobacco, and fruit

The Role of Women Women in new France married young Women in new France married young They usually married between the ages of 12 and 16 They usually married between the ages of 12 and 16 Women were usually better educated in reading and writing than the boys Women were usually better educated in reading and writing than the boys The only profession available to women was to become a seamstress The only profession available to women was to become a seamstress Women were often widowed early and usually remarried Women were often widowed early and usually remarried

Role of Women (con’t) The government encouraged large families as New France had to populate itself The government encouraged large families as New France had to populate itself Women gave birth on average every two years Women gave birth on average every two years However the infant mortality rate was high However the infant mortality rate was high –About 25% Most families had at least one member killed in battle or by disease Most families had at least one member killed in battle or by disease

Role of the Young The population of New France was very young The population of New France was very young 40 – 50% of the population was under the age of – 50% of the population was under the age of 15 At sixteen boys would enroll in the militia and choose a trade At sixteen boys would enroll in the militia and choose a trade All jobs were related to the family or close friends All jobs were related to the family or close friends

Discussion Questions What similarities are their between New France and our own society? What similarities are their between New France and our own society?