Class Project
New France
Fur Trade
What are we going to learn today?
Before we begin here is a summary of what we are going to learn today:
1. What is Fur Trade
2. What are monopolies and who were the Company of 100 associates.
3. Who were the Coureur de bois
4. Who is Robert La Salle
5. Who is Étienne Brulé
6. Who is Jean Nicollet
1. What is Fur Trade
2. What are monopolies and who were the Company of 100 associates.
3. Who were the Coureur de bois
4. Who is Robert La Salle
5. Who is Étienne Brulé
6. Who is Jean Nicollet
Fur Trade
Fur trade was a profitable business in New France from the 1500s throughout the 1800s. As the European people settled in New France, they traded with the Natives for fur in exchange for weapons, metal products, pots etc. After that, the European sold these highly valuable furs for a lot of money. They made clothing and hats out of the furs of beavers, fox, mink, etc. The Fur Trade was when trappers and hunters brought fur to regions we have present day. They went to Montreal, Quebec City and Trois-Rivières, they traded fur for hatchets, metal pots, food, etc. The fur trade was highly supervised and controlled by the French government.
Monopolies and the Company of 100 Associates- 1603 to 1663
A monopoly is a right granted for a group or person to control buying and selling. The Company of 100 associates were a French Trading company.1627 a monopoly was granted to the Company of 100 associates by the French Government. Due to this they were allowed to go into the woods and trade with Native people for fur. In return, the French government needed the Company of 100 associates to bring 4000 French- Catholic- people to settle in New France in the span of 15 years. When these French settlers married a Native women they became a part of the Native trading system. The Company allowed the settlers to trade for fur with the Native if sold only to the Company of 100 associates. In 1663 the war between England and France, caused the Company of 100 associates to get out of business.
Coureur de bois
Who were the Coureur De Bois?
The Coureur de Bois were European traders who left the colony to trade with trappers and hunters of The Woods. These "Runners of The Woods" were operating their business illegally so they had to be careful not to get caught by the government. They were very independent and risk takers because they traded without permission of French authorities. However, they had a very good relation with the natives. The Coureur de Bois learned to survive the winter with the first nations, speak their language, they also learned to survive the woods, how to canoe, hunt and make/use snow shoes. This helped them with their travels to even present day Michigan and Wisconsin. Later on, authorities became concerned with their activities. They thought that unlicensed traders were affecting Montreal's role, center of the fur trade which was oversupplying market and trading alcohol for fur. In 1681 a new permit system was introduced to limit the number of Coureur de Bois and region control of the industry. The legal Coureur de Bois who were called "Voyageurs" which are hard men who worked as canoe paddlers, porters and general laborers, they either had a permit in trading fur or they worked for a Montreal merchant with a permit.
The Coureur de Bois were European traders who left the colony to trade with trappers and hunters of The Woods. These "Runners of The Woods" were operating their business illegally so they had to be careful not to get caught by the government. They were very independent and risk takers because they traded without permission of French authorities. However, they had a very good relation with the natives. The Coureur de Bois learned to survive the winter with the first nations, speak their language, they also learned to survive the woods, how to canoe, hunt and make/use snow shoes. This helped them with their travels to even present day Michigan and Wisconsin. Later on, authorities became concerned with their activities. They thought that unlicensed traders were affecting Montreal's role, center of the fur trade which was oversupplying market and trading alcohol for fur. In 1681 a new permit system was introduced to limit the number of Coureur de Bois and region control of the industry. The legal Coureur de Bois who were called "Voyageurs" which are hard men who worked as canoe paddlers, porters and general laborers, they either had a permit in trading fur or they worked for a Montreal merchant with a permit.
How did the Coureurs de Bois expand the fur trade?
To dominate the fur trade, the Coureurs de bois expanded their trades and traveled North, West and South. They established forts and trading posts and negotiated trading agreements with various native tribes. The Coureurs de Bois were soon called "voyageurs."
Why were the Natives so essential to the Fur trade?
In the 1600's, the Europeans formed alliances with the Natives that dominated the fur trades for over two centuries. The two people recognized themselves as sovereign nations, which means nations that had the power to do what they wanted. For example: make laws. The alliances between the First Nations Peoples and the Europeans showed the respect for each other's nations and recognized each other's right to maintain.
To dominate the fur trade, the Coureurs de bois expanded their trades and traveled North, West and South. They established forts and trading posts and negotiated trading agreements with various native tribes. The Coureurs de Bois were soon called "voyageurs."
Why were the Natives so essential to the Fur trade?
In the 1600's, the Europeans formed alliances with the Natives that dominated the fur trades for over two centuries. The two people recognized themselves as sovereign nations, which means nations that had the power to do what they wanted. For example: make laws. The alliances between the First Nations Peoples and the Europeans showed the respect for each other's nations and recognized each other's right to maintain.
Robert La Salle 1643-1687
Robert La Salle was a French adventurer. He owned several trading posts in New France and also owned Fort Frontenac. La Salle also explored and claimed lands for France. He leaded and expedition with French, Natives, and guides 435km south of Mississippi River. In 1679 he launched a ship called Griffin and lead it on the Great Lakes. On 1682 he led and expedition to the mouth of Mississippi River.
Étienne Brûlé 1592-1633
When Étienne Brulé was only a teenager he was encouraged by Champlain to live with the Huron people and learned their way of life and language. He then explored to the west of Quebec for the French fur trade. His travels took him to what we call today, Ontario. During his travels, he was the very first European to see the five great lakes but soon Champlain accused him of assisting the English Kirke Brothers who had captured Quebec in 1629. After him being accused, he returned to live among the Huron's. Studies show he was probably killed soon after people became suspicious about him dealing with the enemies.
Jean Nicollet 1598 - 1642
Jean Nicollet was one of the famous coureur de bois and an interpeter. Under the orders of Samuel de Champlain he learned the language and customs of the Algonquin people of the first nations. He encouraged Natives to trade with the French and Trois-Rivières rather than the Hudson Bay's Company. He was also the first European to explore areas near Lake Michigan which are present day Wisconsin. During his last years, Jean Nicollet lived in Trois-Rivières and drowned in St. Lawrence River.