1. The French Regime:
Power & Culture

2. Royal Government, 1663 Why was this new system of government passed?
The King of France was not pleased with the Fur Trading companies who were suppose to settle the colony in exchange for the monopoly on the fur trade
King Louis XIV
Reign

3. These 3 were part of a group called the:
Structure:
King of France
Intendant
These 3 were part of a group called the:
Sovereign Council
Captain of Militia
People
Governor
Bishop
Minister of Marine

4. Key Figures in Royal Gov’t
INTENDANT: Responsible for the daily economic affairs of the colony, trade, justice, finance, settlement of the colony and the seigneurial system.
GOVERNOR: Represented the king in the colony; responsible for the defense of New France and for relations with the English and the Indians.
BISHOP: Was in charge of the church, schools, charities, hospitals, and conversion of the Natives.
CAPTAIN OF MILITIA: They reported the concerns of the habitants to the intendant and informed the habitants of the intendant’s plans

5. SOVEREIGN COUNCIL
It consisted of a dozen officials including the governor,
intendant and bishop.
It acted as a legislative, administrative and judicial body (basically it decided on the laws of the colony).
It was the sole governing authority in the colony responsible to the king.

6. Was the system of Royal Government democratic? Explain.
Discussion Question:
Democracy: When citizens are able to elect their officials to represent them in government
Was the system of Royal Government democratic? Explain.

7. NO!
Officials were APPOINTED and not ELECTED. Regular citizens had no say!

8. Means of Control
Discussion Question:
In our contemporary society, how does the State (Government) ensure that laws are enforced in society?
Let’s see how this compares to the way it was done back in New France…

9. MEANS OF CONTROL
To ensure that the rules/laws of the colony were followed, the state had the use of three principal
means of control:

10. 1. THE ARMY

11. 2. PUBLIC PUNISHMENTS
PUBLIC WHIPPING
PUBLIC HANGINGS

12. 3. PUBLIC SHOWS OF POWER PUBLIC HANGINGS INTENDANT’S PALACE
CHATEAU ST. LOUIS

13. CHURCH’S POWER
The Church and state mutually supported one another to ensure that social order was maintained in the colony:

15. How did the State support the Church?
The state made Catholicism the official religion of the colony
Subsidies ($) were given to clergy, missionaries, hospitals, monks and nuns
The State ensured that religious duties were respected
The Church was given control over many aspects of the habitants daily life (ex: Religious instruction, education, hospitals, and charities)

16. How did the Church influence people’s daily lives?
The Church prohibited:
Work on Sundays/Religious holidays
Certain clothes
Colonists from going to cabarets & inns to play...

17. To play cards, chess, checkers, billiards, drink alcohol

18. How did the Church Support the State?
The Church took care of many of the administrative and social duties for the state
The Church taught the believers to obey the authorities
This was emphasized with the concept of ABSOLUTISM

19. Absolutism in the Colony
ABSOLUTISM: A political ideology according to which the ruler (i.e. King or Queen) was said to receive his or her power directly from God and was their representative on earth
The sun was a symbol of Louis XIV. How do you think this emphasizes the notion of absolutism?

20. Absolutism in the Colony
THE GOVERNOR & INTENDANT PHYSICALLY REPRESENTED THE KING IN THE COLONY
THEIR POWER WAS MANIFESTED THROUGH ARCHITECHTURE
THE COAT OF ARMS (FLEUR-DE-LYS) WAS AFFIXED TO THE DOORS OF QUEBEC CITY
SYMBOLIC OF THE KING’S AUTHORITY OVER THE COLONY

21. Absolutism in the Colony
3) THE KING APPOINTED THE BISHOPS OF THE COLONY
4) IMPORTANT OCCASIONS IN THE ROYAL FAMILY WERE CELEBRATED BY FRENCH COLONISTS (BANQUETS, FIREWORKS)

22. NOBILITY IN THE SERVICE OF THE STATE
The role of the nobility was to serve the king with absolute loyalty in one of the following positions:
military officials
judges
high ranking officials

23. THE NOBILITY’S PRIVILEGES
Received preference for allocation of Public Office
2. Received most seigneuries
3. Punishments reduced
4. State ensured their wealth

24. PEASANTS AND ARTISANS BEFORE THE STATE
They represented 80% of the population BUT HAD NO POLITICAL RIGHTS
State used them for their harvests, military service
Authorities main concern with respect to them was to prevent rebellions

25. 2. Speaking to Authorities
State’s Influence
Peasants had to pay taxes
for a variety of products
2. Speaking to Authorities
Colonists had no voice/could not contest taxes
or any other government decisions
3. Power Over Daily Life
The one area in which
colonists had some
voice was their daily
living.

26. Daily Life in the Colony

27. PRACTICED AGRICULTURE & CRAFTS
A) EVERYDAY PRACTICES:
PRACTICED AGRICULTURE & CRAFTS
THESE SKILLS ALLOWED THE FRENCH TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT

28. New forms of clothing included:
2. CLOTHING, METHODS OF TRAVEL AND FOOD WERE ADAPTED ACCORDING TO THE DIFFERENCE IN CLIMATE AND CONTACT WITH THE NATIVES
New forms of clothing included:
WINTER COATS FITTED WITH A HOOD AND BELT
MOCCASSINS BORROWED FROM ABORIGINAL PEOPLES
HATS WHOSE FLAPS COVERED THE EARS/WOOLEN TUQUE

29. NEW FORMS OF TRAVEL INTRODUCED BY NATIVES:
SNOWSHOES
SLEDS
CANOES

30. NEW FORMS OF FOOD INTRODUCED BY FIRST NATIONS:
SQUASH
CORN
MAPLE SYRUP

31. FIRST PERMANENT SETTLEMENTS WERE TRADING POSTS
B) HOUSING AND FURNITURE:
FIRST PERMANENT SETTLEMENTS WERE TRADING POSTS
BUILDINGS AND HOUSING WERE SURROUNDED BY PALISADES FOR PROTECTION
2. SEIGNEURIAL SYSTEM INTRODUCED-1627
THE HOMES OF HABITANTS WERE BASIC (ONE ROOM, FEW WINDOWS, PLAIN FURNITURE)

32. 3. HOUSING IMPROVED IN THE 18TH CENTURY
ARCHITECTURE CHANGED
HEATING SYSTEM IMPROVED
INCREASE IN LIVING SPACE (2-3 ROOMS)
IRON STOVES REPLACED BRICK STOVES
STONE HOUSES BECAME PROMINENT
FURNITURE IN HOUSES REMAINED MODEST