Unit 2: NEW FRANCE

Earliest Voyages to Canada from Europe Possible Irish approach - St. Brendan c. 600 AD Norse from Iceland c AD –did not stay long –Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland Cabot in 1497 to Labrador and Newfoundland

Two Kinds of Contact Regular fishing trips from Western Europe Expeditions sent by kings

Fishing Trips Yearly trips to Grand Banks off Newfoundland by fishing ships from Western Europe Ships stayed for the summer, and camped onshore to salt the fish Trade with local Aboriginal people We don’t know much about these voyages

Expeditions sent by kings Pure exploring expeditions were sent by kings of Western Europe in the hope of finding riches, as the Spanish had done in Mexico and Peru England sent Cabot in 1497, and then lost interest Portuguese explored around Newfoundland and Nova Scotia Francis I of France sent expeditions in 1524 and again in 1534

Verrazano Italian sailor, like Columbus and Cabot, hired by Francis I of France to seek lands and riches in New World in 1524 Sailed along the east coast of North America claimed land for France and named it New France Jacques Cartier may have sailed with Verrazano

Cartier’s First Voyage: 1534 Sailed through Strait of Belle Isle into the Gulf of St. Lawrence Met Native people ready to trade furs Met Donnacona, Iroquoian leader, at Gaspé claimed the land for France took two Natives back to France

Cartier at Gaspé

Cartier’s Second Voyage: Went straight to St. Lawrence River with help of Native guides Found Stadacona at site of Quebec Called region Canada - from kanata (town or settlement in the Iroquoian language)

Went upriver to Hochelaga - Montreal now Returned to Stadacona for the winter

Survived scurvy with help of Native tea Learned of Kingdom of Saguenay kidnapped Donnacona and 4 other leaders

Cartier’s Third Voyage: Again sailed to Stadacona – purpose – to establish a French colony in Canada None of Iroquois captives returned with the French built a fort attacked by Iroquois at Stadacona found only quartz and fool’s gold rest of the expedition stayed the following year The French left, and did not return for sixty years

Cartier’s First Voyage: 1534

Cartier’s Second Voyage :

Postscript Cartier continued to advise others about Canada and the New World until his death Fishermen continued to go every year to Newfoundland and the St. Lawrence trade onshore became more important - particularly fur trade St. Lawrence Iroquoians disappeared from history - not there in 1603