1. The Fur Trade Era in BC 1770s-1849
BCFNS 12

2. Imperialism
Imperialism refers to a policy of extending rule of a nation or empire over foreign nations and of taking territory and holding control over the people who live there.

3. First Nations Trade Nuxalk-Dakelh Grease Trail
Remember that First Nations traders were already established in North America and traded many goods between themselves before the Europeans came along- including furs

4. British Colonialism
The search for resources and new markets to increase profits fueled British colonialism.
During the period of colonialism, Britain eventually controlled most of India, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and large portions of eastern and southern Africa. They were the largest empire in the world.

5. British Colonialism
British colonial efforts were justified by what was called “white man’s burden,” which asserted that native peoples were not capable of governing themselves and needed the white British colonialist to provide and maintain order.

6. Who were the Europeans?
The Europeans were representatives of countries in Europe that were looking for a sea route to Asia
Spain, Britain, France, Russia and others
They wanted the trade goods they could get in Asia
These countries were also in strong competition with each other to become rich and powerful
They built their wealth and power by taking over parts of the world and making money from the resources they found there – This idea is called IMPERIALISM

7. Imperialism – Build an Empire
FRANCE and GREAT BRITAIN
MOTHER COUNTRY
TAKES OVER A COLONY
TAKE OVER what will become CANADA
Use as a source of raw materials (food, gold, metals, wood) to send back to mother country
They use it a source of raw materials (furs, fish, wood) to send back to mother country
Use raw materials to make money and to create products to sell back to the colonies
Use raw materials to make money and to create products to sell back to the colonies
Colony buys goods from mother country
Colony buys goods from mother country

8. You can’t really see the map very well, but you can see from the purple lines that ships were sent out to explore and take over territory
This is Europe

9. The Age of Exploration – 1490s-1800s
The northwest region of North America (British Columbia, Oregon, Washington) was one of the last areas to be explored by the Europeans
It was a difficult area to get to – over land they had to face the Rockies, while at sea, they had to round South America – rough seas!

10. Explorers came by land as well as by sea
Juan Perez
Cook
Vancouver
By land
Mackenzie
Fraser
Thompson

11. Arrival of Europeans
Europeans came from two directions with interesting trade goods that made the lives of First Nations easier
Guns
Iron
An intense period of trade began between First Nations and Europeans

12. The Role of First Nations people
Europeans depended upon First Nations communities and individuals for guiding, carrying mail, supplying food for daily survival and trapping the animals for furs

13. The Pacific
The Spanish, British and the Russians were the early explorers of the Pacific Northwest
Spain claimed the Pacific for itself, but England argued that they should visit a place before claiming it for themselves
Very little thought was put into the people who already owned the territory

14. Early contact
Perhaps Spanish explorer Juan de Fuca reached Vancouver Island by 1592 –no evidence
Russia had colonized the Aleutian Islands by 1770s and were headed south
Spanish send spies to see how far south the Russians had made it
This led to the first recorded contact between a BC First Nation and Europeans

15. Juan Perez and the Haida Gwaii - 1774
Perez’s ship was too big to put in at shore, but the Haida sent a boat out to meet with them and brought trade goods
Weather forced him to leave shortly after this, and he did also put in at Yuquot (Nootka Sound) on the west coast of Vancouver Island with the Nuu-chal-nulth
He noted they had copper and iron goods – showing trade goods had made it over the Rockies

16. Captain Cook
Four years later, another explorer landed - again at Yuquot (Nootka Sound)
Captain Cook from England was in charge of this expedition
Read p. 65

17. Importance of Cook’s visit
Cook’s ships left with sea otter pelts
While Cook never made it home (he died in Hawaii), news of the rich area of furs and the fantastic profit to be made was spread by his officers
They also took a tree used for a mast
The race for furs – and timber - was on

18. Imperialism – Build an Empire
Use as a to mother country
They use it to mother country
Use raw materials to to sell back to the colonies
Use raw materials to sell back to the colonies
Colony country
Colony country