TODAY’S LEARNING GOAL: EXPLAIN WHY
SETTLERS CAME TO NEW FRANCE
Success Criteria:
-I can describe the groups of people who were important to New France (fur traders,
Seigneurs, Habitants, Filles du Roi)
-I can describe the importance of the beaver to the economy of New France
LIKE THE RELIGIOUS FIGURES, ANOTHER IMPORTANT
GROUP IN EARLY CANADA, WAS THE FUR TRADERS…
*the First Nations used fur pelts from beavers to trade
*beaver pelts (hats) were in huge demand in Europe!
*trappers and hunters brought furs to today’s Montreal, Quebec City
*furs were exchanged for metal pots and hatchets
WHO WERE THE COUREURS DES BOIS?
*they were the “runners of the woods” and it was a name given to Europeans who
travelled inland to trade for furs
Beaver hat
*the Coureurs des bois left the colony to trade directly with the trappers and hunters
*in 1656 they brought 50 canoes crammed with beaver pelts back to New France
*this was illegal, because only licensed agents could trade with the First Nations
people (a private trading company as well as the king, decided who would be
licensed to trade)
AND THEN THINGS CHANGED…
In 1663 King Louis XIV of France took control
and made it legal for ANYONE in New France
to trade with the First Nations people
THE RESULT…
*there were many more coureurs des bois because it was now legal to trade with the
First Nations
*the governor was not happy!
WHY?
-the governor was trying to control the fur trade for his own benefit
-there were disputes between the coureurs des bois and the governor
-300 to 400 coureurs des bois left the colony of New France (Quebec) and left for
long periods of time
-the coureurs des bois were neglecting their families and weren’t in New France to
defend the colony against the British
COUREURS DES BOIS..
*by 1688 there were about 800 coureurs des bois who had left New France!
*France needed only 20 000 kg of pelts a year, but the coureurs des bois were
bringing in far more than that
So…
The King put an end to the freedom of the coureurs des bois
THE FARMERS…WHO SETTLED THE LAND
Most of the people in New France were FARMERS!
Seigneurs were men who were granted land by the King of France
The land they seigneurs were awarded were called seigneuries
WHAT WAS A SEIGNEURIE?
*large areas of land (10km x 5 km)
*the seigneurs kept a large section for himself and had to get farm families, called
habitants to settle on the rest of it
*seigneuries were beside the river (water for farming and transportation)
*the fields were long and narrow so that many families could have access to the
water
*the seigneur kept a large section for a church, lumber mill etc.
*common land was for recreational and social events
WHO WERE THE HABITANTS?
They were families who worked hard and had lots of responsibilities like…
-cutting and clearing land
-growing crops and raising animals
-had to pay rent to the seigneur (part of their crops)
-worked without pay for 10 days a year, harvesting the seignuer’s fields
-worked for free on the churches and roads in the seigneurie
-paying taxes to the Church and government
THE HABITANTS HAD DIFFERENT JOBS DEPENDING ON
THE SEASON…
WINTER: cut trees for firewood, cared for animals
SPRING: repaired fences, took animals to pasture, ploughed and planted fields
SUMMER: planted hay for winter, harvested crops
FALL: stored grain and flour, stacked firewood, stored supplies for winter
WHO WERE THE “FILLES DU ROI?”
Filles du roi were young women, often orphans in the care of the Church, sent to
marry settlers in New France
*there was a shortage of single women in New France
*authorities decided to import young woman to N.F. for the fur traders
*they were given free transportation to N.F. , expenses and a dowry
*they were encouraged to marry by the Church
*the Filles du roi were an important part of New France
*they helped provide the colony with stable families, hard work and motherly skills
DID YOU MEET TODAY’S LEARNING GOAL?
GO BACK TO SLIDE #2 AND SEE HOW YOU DID!