Nouvelle-France The Colony’s Political and Social Organization

Political Organization of Nouvelle France Company of One Hundred Associates Cardinal Richelieu and 100 investors Goal: to establish a French Empire in North America Trade Settlement Conversion to Christianity

Royal Government in Nouvelle- France The Company of 100 Associates did not achieve their goals for settlers and income King Louis dismissed the company and made Nouvelle-France into a royal colony in 1663 Governed by Royal Government Under control of King and appointed council

Royal Colony of New France Ultimate control by King Sovereign Council was appointed by King Eventually there was greater autonomy from France Leadership from France, then from people born in colony Early years of royal rule: great interest; later: war took focus The distance from France was a challenge Permission for actions had to go by mail which took a long time Quebec would make decisions on its own rather than wait

Government in Nouvelle France

Who were these people? King of France Louis XIV Governor Military matters and external policy Intendent Administered justice, policies and finances Bishop Handled religious affairs Captains of the Militia Citizens selected by peers, reported concerns of habitants to intendant, informed citizens of government plans Seigneurs Soldiers, merchants, or nobility who rented land grant to habitants Had to build manor house, be present on land, build grist mill Habitants Paid taxes to Church and annual fees for land, fishing and hunting rights, and use of grist mill

Daily Life in Nouvelle France Seigneurial System

Daily Life in Nouvelle France Role of the Church Religious services Social needs Jesuits (Catholic) Arrived in 1625 for conversion mission Learned language and culture for success Father Jacques Marquette

Daily Life in Nouvelle France Ursuline nuns Managed first schools and hospitals Conversion was not their main goal

What kind of people do you think were interested in coming to Nouvelle-France? -Rich? Poor? -Men? Women? -Old? Young? -Merchants? Farmers?

Daily Life in Nouvelle-France Les Filles du Roi – The King’s Daughters Imbalance of 1 woman per 6 men Single and widowed women from France offered money (50 francs and travel expenses; baby bonus if you had over 10 kids) Move to Nouvelle-France, find a husband and raise a family as colonist By 1671 there had been ~700 births in Nouvelle- France

Daily Life in New France Role of the military Unfriendly relationship with Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) who had an alliance with British In 1666 a 1100 man regiment was sent to Quebec Two expeditions against Iroquois, the second led to the burning of villages and destruction of winter supplies This influenced the Haudenosaunee to sign a peace treaty with colonists Quebec also had a militia for defense, consisting of all able-bodied men age who trained for defense and undertook public works projects (roads, bridges, buildings)

Geography of North America Two theories: Expansion Keep it small  Reliance on expansion to meet goals of France  Population was very small and the territory was very large  1730, La Verendrye – MB, ND, SD, sons reached Rockies  By 1740, the territory of New France went all the way to the Gulf of Mexico – this region was called Louisiana

The Fur Trade Offered economic strength to New France System of mercantilism First Nations trapped and prepared fur for trade Increased trade relationships as French migrated deeper into North America How would colonization have been different if beaver hats weren’t en vogue?

Coureurs de Bois  “runners of the woods”  Beaver scarce along St. Lawrence lowlands  What would you do to get the beaver you need for trade?  Leave settlement, live and trade in northern areas with First Nations  Preference to life with First Nations over settlement; counterproductive to Christianization