1. New France The First Colony

2. Geography New France was huge New France was huge It stretched from Cape Breton (Isle Royale) in the east to Lake Winnipeg in the west It stretched from Cape Breton (Isle Royale) in the east to Lake Winnipeg in the west In the north it included most of the areas surrounding Hudson Bay and in the south as far as the Gulf of Mexico at the mouth of the Mississippi In the north it included most of the areas surrounding Hudson Bay and in the south as far as the Gulf of Mexico at the mouth of the Mississippi

3. Geography (con’t) The population remained very small however The population remained very small however In 1716 the population of this entire area was 20,890 In 1716 the population of this entire area was 20,890 This is about half the population of Prince Albert This is about half the population of Prince Albert The future of the colony was never agreed upon The future of the colony was never agreed upon

4. Geography (con’t) Some officials thought that the colony should remain compact, easily defended, and French dominated Some officials thought that the colony should remain compact, easily defended, and French dominated Others felt that the colony should be expanded to increase the influence of France even if all of the people in the colony would not be French Others felt that the colony should be expanded to increase the influence of France even if all of the people in the colony would not be French

6. Economy The economy of New France was based on the doctrine of Mercantilism The economy of New France was based on the doctrine of Mercantilism This doctrine expresses the idea that a country’s colonies should provide that country’s industry with raw materials and markets This doctrine expresses the idea that a country’s colonies should provide that country’s industry with raw materials and markets In layman’s terms colonies grow wheat and buy bread In layman’s terms colonies grow wheat and buy bread

7. Economy (con’t) This theory was used by Jean Baptist Colbert, the French finance minister, to make France a leading country in Europe This theory was used by Jean Baptist Colbert, the French finance minister, to make France a leading country in Europe Policy items that would benefit the mother country were often adopted while those benefiting the colonies were neglected Policy items that would benefit the mother country were often adopted while those benefiting the colonies were neglected Colonies were not allowed to trade with other countries Colonies were not allowed to trade with other countries

8. Economy (con’t) They could not take advantage of better prices to either buy or sell their goods They could not take advantage of better prices to either buy or sell their goods

9. The Fur Trade The Fur Trade started as a side bar to the fisheries industry The Fur Trade started as a side bar to the fisheries industry Fishermen who came ashore to dry fish or to wait out a storm would trade metal goods and firearms for furs. Fishermen who came ashore to dry fish or to wait out a storm would trade metal goods and firearms for furs. For many years the fur trade was the economic backbone of the colony For many years the fur trade was the economic backbone of the colony

10. The Fur Trade (con’t) In 1608 Samuel de Champlain established a trading settlement at Quebec In 1608 Samuel de Champlain established a trading settlement at Quebec Champlain used the Huron and the Algonquin to bring furs to the settlement Champlain used the Huron and the Algonquin to bring furs to the settlement Champlain’s Huron allies asked for help in raid against the Iroquois Champlain’s Huron allies asked for help in raid against the Iroquois This led to a series of wars against the Iroquois lasting almost 100 years This led to a series of wars against the Iroquois lasting almost 100 years

11. The Fur Trade (con’t) The Huron and the Algonquin acted as middlemen trading for furs with other aboriginal cultures and passing the furs on to the French The Huron and the Algonquin acted as middlemen trading for furs with other aboriginal cultures and passing the furs on to the French This made them logical targets for the Iroquois This made them logical targets for the Iroquois In 1649 the Iroquois destroyed Huronia and forced the survivors in to exile In 1649 the Iroquois destroyed Huronia and forced the survivors in to exile

12. The Fur Trade (con’t) This forced the king to send troops to New France This forced the king to send troops to New France Eventually a peace was reached Eventually a peace was reached As New France grew the Fur Trade evolved As New France grew the Fur Trade evolved

13. The Coureurs de Bois Young men from the St. Lawrence region who were looking for adventure Young men from the St. Lawrence region who were looking for adventure These men assumed the task of transporting the furs These men assumed the task of transporting the furs They would travel up stream to trade with the natives They would travel up stream to trade with the natives Although they did provide a valuable service the authorities were not entirely comfortable with the coureurs de bois Although they did provide a valuable service the authorities were not entirely comfortable with the coureurs de bois

14. The Coureurs de Bois (con’t) The coureurs de bois were not licensed traders and their furs were sometimes not welcome in French markets The coureurs de bois were not licensed traders and their furs were sometimes not welcome in French markets In this case they would simply slip away and sell to the British In this case they would simply slip away and sell to the British

15. Changes in the Fur Trade Pierre Radisson and Médard Chouart discovered that ships could navigate Hudson Bay and save the money of transportation Pierre Radisson and Médard Chouart discovered that ships could navigate Hudson Bay and save the money of transportation This led to the advent of the Hudson Bay Company This led to the advent of the Hudson Bay Company The French then planned to intercept the furs on their way to British markets The French then planned to intercept the furs on their way to British markets

16. Changes in the Fur Trade (con’t) The Fur Trade became more significant tactically than economically The Fur Trade became more significant tactically than economically In order to keep alliances furs would have to be bought even though there was little market In order to keep alliances furs would have to be bought even though there was little market It cemented an alliance with the natives in the competition with Great Britain It cemented an alliance with the natives in the competition with Great Britain

17. Discussion Questions What could Champlain have done differently? What could Champlain have done differently? Why were some colonists not happy with mercantile attitudes? Why were some colonists not happy with mercantile attitudes? Was the destruction of Huronia caused by the French? Was the destruction of Huronia caused by the French?