Unit 2 Notes: The Evolution of Colonial
Society Under French Rule (1608–1760)
1760)
History of Quebec and Canada
Terminology (Definitions)
Absolutism: The divine right of kings. The king of France had absolute power and his
decisions were considered given and approved by God. Since people were religious, people
peopl
didn't question him,, otherwise there would be severe consequences.
Acclimatize: The act of adjusting
justing or adapting to a new way of life, climate, place, or situation.
Acculturation: The process by which a person acquires the culture of a particular society.
Artisanal work: Something made by a skilled craft worker, such as furniture, decorative arts,
sculptures, clothing, jewelry, household items, or tools.
Bishop: The Church leader who was responsible for members of the clergy in a region. In
the 1600s, there was one bishop for all of New France.
Bourgeoisie: A new middle-class
class citizen of France (or New France) that had good jobs and money.
Canadiens: The French colonists living in New France.
Capitulate: To give up without fighting.
Colony: A territory which is owned and ruled by a mother country. There are two types of
colonies – trading post colonies and settlement colonies. A settlement colony are territories
taken by Europeans in order to exploit raw materials and settle colonists. A trading post
colony were established and operated by Europeans in order to trade raw materials with the
Aboriginals.
Concession: A compromise or an agreement between two or more groups of people. For
example, the French let other countries fish on the coast of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia
under the condition that the fishermen sold some of the fish to New Fr
France
ance.
Curé: A parish priest.
Evangelization: Teaching Christians beliefs to non
non-Christians;
Christians; conversion of non-believers.
non
Habitants: A term originally used to describe the settlers living in l'Habitation built by
Champlain in 1608 in Quebec City. Later, this term was used to refer to the French colonist
farmers living in New France.
Mercantilism: An economic theory in which the prosper
prosperity
ity and power of a king and his
country are based on the accumulation of precious metals and resources.
Mother country: The country that owns and rules a colony and its settlers.
Parish: A district (region or neighborhood) served by a church.
Tithe: A church tax that colonists had to pay.
Trading post: One or more buildings used to exchange furs and other natural resources
with the aboriginals in exchange for modern items such as metal objects, woolen clothing,
leather shoes, mirrors, and alcohol.
Triangular trade: Colonies provided raw materials to the mother country where goods were
made from these materials. These goods were sold within the country and to other countries,
and were also shipped back to the colonies for sale. Mother countries would profit.
p
Refer to
the diagrams on the next page.
Mr. Mansour's History Class
History of Quebec and Canada
Page 1 of 22
Unit 2 Notes: The Evolution off Colonial Society Under French Rule (1608–1760)
Monopoly of the charte
tered companies
Mercantilism
• Mercantilism is an economic theory in which the prosperity and power of a king and his
country are based on the accumulation of precious metals and resources.
• Countries and their kings thought that they were only as powerful as the wealth that they
possessed.
• One way to increase their wealth was to use triangular trade. France organized trade
between France, New France, and the French West Indies. Colonies provided raw materials
to the mother country where goods were made from these materials. These goods were sold
within the country and to other countries, and were also shipped back to the colonies for
sale. Mother countries would profit.
Source: Campeau, Francis, & et. al. (2016). Reflections.qc.ca: Origins to 1840.. Montreal, QC: Chenelière Éducation.
Éducation
Privileges and obligations
ns of chartered companies
• A chartered company is a group of merchants (businessmen) and nobles (upper-class
(upper
citizens) who received a royal charter (authority to do business).
• These companies were often given a monopoly (exclusive rights to do business) in
exchange for bringing settlers to New France
France.
• Privileges of the chartered companies: Only chartered companies could obtain fur and
resources from specific regions of New France to make money for themselves and the king.
• Obligations of the chartered companies: In a given number of years, they
hey had to bring in
certain number of settlers to New
ew France.
• Île Sainte-Croix: After receiving a monopoly from King Henry IV (4th) of France in 1604,
160
Sieur Pierre Du Gua
ua de Monts established a trading post on Île Sainte-Croix
Croix (near the Bay
of Fundy). During the first winter, most settlers died of scurvy. In 1605, the post was then
moved to Port Royal in Acadia (present-day Nova Scotia). In 1607, Port Royal was
abandoned. The king granted Pierre Du Gua de Monts the monopoly until 1617.
• l'Habitation: In 1608, Pierre Du Gua de Monts hires Champlain to set up a trading post in
Quebec City (Stadacona). l'Habitation
Habitation was a fortified village on a cliff to deter attackers.
attackers It had
apartments, gardens, a forge (shop for metal work), a drawbridge, cannons, and a sundial.
sundial
• In 1627, the Company of One Hundred Associates (a.k.a., the Company of New France)
France
was created and was given the monopoly to exploit the n
natural
atural resources of New France. In
return, they had to administer the colony, evangelize the Aboriginals and bring in 4 000
Roman Catholic settlers within 15 years
years. The company's ships were often seized by the
British and their furs taken from Quebec City. Because of these setbacks, they only brought
600 colonists by 1645. As a resu
result, they lost their monopoly.
Mr. Mansour's History Class
History of Quebec and Canada
Page 2 of 22
Unit 2 Notes: The Evolution off Colonial Society Under French Rule (1608–1760)
Royal Government of New France (1663)
The Sovereign Council was administered (run) according to the Custom of Paris.
The Sovereign Council
Since the Governor General could not properly manage
each trading post colony efficiently on his own, he had
others to help him. He had individual Governors for Montreal
and Three-Rivers. Sieur Daniel Rémy held the position of
governor of the royal government from 1665-1672.
1665
Similarly, the Intendant had sub-delegates
delegates (assistants) in
Quebec City, Montreal, and Three-Rivers
Rivers to help him out.
These cities were considered administrative centers of
New France. The first Intendant was Sieur Jean Talon.
Source: Fortin, Sylvain, & et. al. (2009). Panoramas: History and
Citizenship Education Cycle Two Year. Montreal, QC: Chenelière
Éducation [adapted].
Militia Captains
Citizens
Absolutism (the divine rig
ght of kings)
• Absolutism is a political believe that kings had absolute power given and approved by God.
Since people were religious, people didn't question the king's decisions, otherwise, there
would be severe consequences.
Minister of the Marine
• The first Minister of the Marine was Jean
Jean-Baptiste Colbert.
• He reported directly to the King of France and was responsible for all the French colonies
(not just New France).
• He really pushed for triangular trade.
• He helped develop the navy and constructed ports for the ships.
• To help the economy and to increase the population of the colonies, he created large
companies and gave them monopoly rights.
Sovereign Council
• Made up of the Governor General, the Intendant, the Bishop, and a number of Council
members.
• Served as a court of appeal
• They executed administrative duties.
Governor
• He was the official representative of the King of France in New France.
• The most important governor of the royal government was Sieur Daniel Rémy.
Rémy
• He was responsible for external affairs:
Maintaining relationships with the Native peoples; and
Maintaining relationships with the English colonies.
• He was also responsible for organizing military attacks.
Mr. Mansour's History Class
History of Quebec and Canada
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Unit 2 Notes: The Evolution off Colonial Society Under French Rule (1608–1760)
First governors of New France
• Although he wasn't officially appointed by the King, Champlain was considered to be the first
governor general of New France from 1612-1629, and again from 1633-1635.
1635.
• Official governors:
1st governor : Montmagny
(1636-1648)
2nd governor : D'Ailleboust
(1648-1651)
rd
3 governor : Lauson
(1651-1657)
4th governor : Voyer d'Argenson (1658-1661)
5th governor : Dubois Davaugour (1661-1663)
6th governor : de Saffray
(1663-1665)
7th governor : Sieur Daniel Rémy (1665-1672)
Governors appointed after the creation
of the Royal Government, 1663
Intendant
• The First Intendant was Sieur Jean Talon
Talon.
• He was responsible for internal affairs:
Police;
Military;
Justice;
Finances;
Administration of the New France;
Economic development; and
Population growth.
Military organization
• There were two groups of men in New France to defend the territory:
Regular soldiers (paid and trained for warfare); and
Militiamen (usually they were not paid but had to carry out various tasks when asked).
• Militia captains:
Were responsible for recruiting
ruiting men to join the militia;
Relayed military and civil orders from those in charge to the militiamen; and
Assigned tasks
sks to the militiamen
militiamen.
NOTES:
Mr. Mansour's History Class
History of Quebec and Canada
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Unit 2 Notes: The Evolution off Colonial Society Under French Rule (1608–1760)
French territory in North America
First permanent settlemen
nts in the St. Lawrence Valley
• Colonization of Île Sainte-Croix
Croix (1604
(1604-1605) and Port Royal (1605-1607)
1607) failed in Acadia.
The French later focused on settlements in the St
St-Lawrence Valley.
• 1608: Champlain founded Quebec City (Stadacona) by building a fortified village called
l'Habitation which had apartments, gardens, a forge (shop for metal work), a drawbridge,
cannons, and a sundial. Champlain was hired by Sieur Pierre Du Gua de Monts.
• Quebec City was considered a perfect site to set up a new colony because:
It was located on the St-Lawrence
Lawrence River (a major route to fur
fur-producing
producing regions);
The region had many animals that could be trapped for fur; and
The cliff next to fortified trading post discouraged attackers.
• 1634: Sieur de Laviolette (hired by Champlain) founded Three Rivers by constructing a
village inside an old fort initially created by the Company of One Hundred Associates.
Associates
Champlain hoped to organize and profit from the trade that was developing between the
French and the aboriginals.. Three Rivers was considered a great site because:
It was located where the Saint
Saint-Maurice River and St-Lawrence
Lawrence River meet;
This area had many fur-bearing
bearing animals; and
It was located at the top of a small hill that discourage attackers.
• 1642: Montreal (a.k.a. Ville-Marie
Marie or Hochelaga) was founded. Montreal was considered a
good location because:
It was located on an island were the Outaouais River and the St
St-Lawrence
Lawrence River meet;
It was easy access for ships;
It was easy to spot on-coming
coming ships in order to defend themselves; and
It was an ideal location for fur trade.
Fishing territory
• Early 1500s: Europeans came to North America to fish
fish. Fishing was the economic activity
that led to first contacts between the Europeans and Aboriginals.. Europeans fished here
because:
It was harder to catch fish in their homeland because of over fishing;
Fish was an important part of their diets since tthe
he French were religious and couldn't eat
meat on Friday’s and on special holidays; and
Newfoundland
foundland had an abundance of fish (like cod).
• 1600s and early 1700s: Merchants from other countries cam
came to fish on the coast of
Newfoundland and Cape Breton (northeastern tip of Nova Scotia)
Scotia).
To do this, they had to get a concession (an agreement or permission) from France.
Usually, the fishermen would be given the right to fish but had to sell a portion of their
catch to New France and other French colonies (like the French West Indies).
NOTES:
Mr. Mansour's History Class
History of Quebec and Canada
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Unit 2 Notes: The Evolution off Colonial Society Under French Rule (1608–1760)
Territory claimed
• Early 1600s: Explorations like those of Champlain towards
the Great Lakes region, expanded the territory. New France
now included:
Canada (a small part of the present day Province of Quebec);
Acadia (present day Nova Scotia and New Brunswick); and
part of Newfoundland.
Settled territory
• Territory claimed (see above section) doesn't mean that
people lived (settled) there.
erritory was vast and the majority of the
• The French territory
settlers lived in the St-Lawrence
Lawrence lowlands and in Acadia.
New France & British Colonies (1663)1
British possessions
• Great Britain possessed colonies on the east coast of the
present-day United States.
• By 1663, the British had 10 colon
colonies: Virginia, New York,
Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island
Island, Connecticut, New
Hampshire, Delaware, North Carolina, and South Carolina
Carolina.
• Between 1607 and 1732, there
re were 13 British colonies:
1607: Virginia
1630: Massachusetts
1636: Rhode Island
1638: New Hampshire
1653: North Carolina
1664: New Jersey
1732: Georgia
1626: New York
1633: Maryland
1636: Connecticut
1638: Delaware
1663: South Carolina
1682: Pennsylvania
Treaty of Saint-Germain-e
en-Laye
• In 1629, Scotland intercepted French supply ships from
reaching Quebec City. This caused hardship and starvation
for Champlain and his men.
New France & 13 British Colonies (1700)2
Source 1, 2:: Campeau, Francis, & et. al. (2016).
Reflections.qc.ca: Origins to 1840.
1840 Montreal, QC: Chenelière
Éducation.
• An agreement was signed March 29, 1632 between France and Scotland.
• It returned New France (Quebec, Acadia and Cape Breton Island) to the French.
French
NOTES:
Mr. Mansour's History Class
History of Quebec and Canada
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Unit 2 Notes: The Evolution off Colonial Society Under French Rule (1608–1760)
Native warfare and diplo
lomacy
Alliances with Europeans
• The Huron-Wendat
Wendat Confederacy of five nations were in conflict with the Iroquois
Confederacy of five nations.
he French in Tadoussac formed an alliance with the Algonquin, Huron, Maliseet,
• In 1603, the
and Innu in order to keep the fur trade in French hands.
• Advantage for Innu, Algonquin, Maliseet:
Ensured a supply of European goods
goods; and
Offered a military partnership
tnership against enemy nations – the
he French helped the Algonquin
fight the Iroquois Confederacy which now made the French and Iroquois enemies.
• Advantage for the French:
Enabled settlements in the territory of the allied nations
nations; and
Ensured their fur supply.
• The English and the Dutch (from the Netherlands) also had colonies on the east coast of
North America. They also wanted fur. They allied with the Iroquois and gave them muskets to
attack the French and Algonquin. The Iroquois also
received European goods in return for fur. The English
and the Dutch were hoping to distract the French from
the fur trade.
Iroquois wars
• The Iroquois Confederacy attacked the French and
Algonquin settlements in the St
St-Lawrence Valley.
• The Iroquois often used the Richelieu River that runs
from Sorel-Tracy down towards Lake Champlain in New
York state.
• The French had few soldiers to defend themselves.
• Governor Montmagny built a fort near Sorel
Sorel-Tracy in
1642 to fight-off attackers.
• French religious missionaries trying to convert the
aboriginals that sided with the French were often
captured, tortured, and killed.
Great Peace of Montréal
• A peace treaty signed on August 4, 1701 between New
France and 40 First Nation groups of North America.
Great Peace
ace of Montreal, 1701
• It provided 16 years of peaceful relations and trade before war started again.
NOTES:
Mr. Mansour's History Class
History of Quebec and Canada
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Unit 2 Notes: The Evolution off Colonial Society Under French Rule (1608–1760)
Fur trade
Exploitation of the resourc
ce
• Fur was in big demand in Europe, especially for making felt hats.
• Fur bearing animals were become scarce in Europe.
• The fur in New France was of high quality – the colder the
e weather, the better the fur.
fur
• French merchants saw the fur trade as a good way to become wealthy
wealthy.
Exploration of the territory
ory
• Increased demand for furs made it necessary to find new sources for furs.
• Initially, the French waited in their trading posts for First Nations to bring furs to them.
• Later, the French hired coureurs de bois to hike through the woods looking for aboriginals
aboriginal
to trade with.
• Voyageurs were hired by licenced traders to transport them on rivers and lakes to find more fur.
• Fur traders went further and further inland (to the south and to the west) in their
thei search for
new sources of fur. This expanded the territory.
Role of agents
• Merchants: They had commercial motives and hoped to get rich.
• Communauté des Habitants: Ordinary citizens and investors from New France that were
given permission by the Company of One Hundred Associates to obtain fur in return for a
percentage of the profits. Eventually, they took over the monopoly that the Company lost.
• Coureurs de bois: To
o get more furs, they hiked through deep woods, canoed up and down
rivers, ventured in the wilderness, and often lived with the aboriginals.
• Voyageurs: French canoe men or boat men who transported the fur
fur,, goods, and other fur
traders across the North American
ican continent in exchange for portions of the profit.
profit They also
had a congé de traite (trade license) from France which authorized them to get furs directly
from the Aboriginals.
• Montagnais: They became the trade intermediaries between the French and other
Aboriginal groups.
• Alliances: The French made a deal with the Algonquin, Huron and Innu (formerly known as
Montagnais and Naskapi) peoples to keep the fur trade in French hands.
• Aboriginals: They wanted more European goods such as woolen blankets, leather shoes,
metal arrowheads, metal axes, metal pots, tools, and even alcohol.
Congé de traite (trade lice
ence)
• A licence granted by the governor to individuals involved in the fur trade. The idea was to
only grant a limited number of fur trading licences in order to control overexploitation.
However, most coureurs
oureurs de bois continued to trade without a licence.
NOTES:
Mr. Mansour's History Class
History of Quebec and Canada
Page 8 of 22
Unit 2 Notes: The Evolution off Colonial Society Under French Rule (1608–1760)
Catholic Church
Religious orders (communities)
• Different religious communities of the Roman Catholic faith came to New France to convert
the aboriginals and offer their services.
• Religious communities included the Jesuits, Récollets, Ursulines, Augustines, Sulpiciens, Secular
daughters of the Congrégration de Notre
Notre-Dame of Montreal, and Hospitaliers de St-Joseph.
St
• The Sulpiciens came to Montreal in 1657 and became the seigneurs of the Island of
Montreal.
Evangelization of Native p
peoples
• The Church wanted to convert the aboriginals to the Roman Catholic faith.
• To do this, some religious communities settled in New France.
• Some missionaries learned the native language and lived among the aboriginals.
• Because of their persistence to convert aboriginals, ssome
ome were captured, tortured, and killed.
Social services and health
h care
• The Church operated hospitals (cared for the sick) and schools, and cared for the elderly
and orphans.
• They also taught cooking and sewing to the young girls.
• Jeanne Mance (a religious settler) set up l’Hôtel-Dieu in Montreal (the
the first hospital)
hospital in 1642.
• Marguerite Bourgeoys (a nun) established the first school in Montreal in 1658.
Role of the bishop
• The bishop (responsible for the clergy in a given region) gave instructions to clergy members
by writing pastoral letters that would be read by priests to the people during mass.
mass
• He had authority over all priests in New France. He made sure the Church's beliefs and
teachings were respected.
• Monseigneur François de Laval was the first bishop of New France. He founded the
Séminaire de Québec (a school to train the colony's priests).
Support and guidance for colonists
• The Catholic Church provided religious support and guidance to colonists.
• Colonists obeyed the priests' instructions, paid the church tax (tithe), practiced religious rites,
and attended mass regularly.
Establishment of parishes
hes
• A parish was a territory and its occupants (like a neighborhood) that was served by a church
and its priest.
• Parishes had to keep written records of births, baptisms, marriages, deaths, and burials.
Mr. Mansour's History Class
History of Quebec and Canada
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Unit 2 Notes: The Evolution off Colonial Society Under French Rule (1608–1760)
Population growth
Social and geographic orig
gins of immigrants
• Colonists had diverse social backgrounds, but most had simple ordinary origins (farmers,
craftspeople, laborers).
• Many colonists originated from the western part of France (areas by the Atlantic Ocean).
• Most colonist were young unmarried catholic men (about 20 years old).
• In the early 1600s, the population of New France was ve
very small; about 3 000 colonists.
• 63% were men, 37% female.
• They were spread across a vast territory.
• This made it difficult for men and women to meet, marry, and have children.
Settlement policies
ies (a.k.a. Colonization programs)
There are 3 colonization programs that attempted to increase the population of New France.
France
Most will argue that these were no
not very effective and that population growth in the colony was
mainly the result of natural increase (births)
(births).
1. Colonization program of the chartered companies
• France gave monopolies to groups such as the Company of One Hundred Associates,
in exchange for them increasing the population by xx-number
number of people by a certain year.
• The Company of One Hundred Associates had to bring in 4 000 new settlers in 15
years. They only brought
ght in 600 colonists.
• The Company of One Hundred Associates was more interested in profits ($) and didn’t
try to bring in settlers. As a result, they lost their monopoly.
• The chartered companies explored the territory and constructed trading posts.
2. Colonization
ation program of the government (state)
• The royal government
overnment of 1663 made the Intendant responsible for increasing the
population of New France.
• The king of France sent les
es filles du roi (see section below) to New France.
• France sent les engagés (m
(men hired to help) to New France hoping they'd say after
their 3-year
year contract, but only half stayed while the other half returned to France.
• France sent more soldiers,, many of whom permanently settled in the colony.
• France allowed minor criminals the right to settle in New France.
• The seigneurial system promoted the orderly distribution of land and attracted many
immigrants into New France.
• Fathers were given fines for not having their sons married by the age of 20 and their
daughters by the age of 16.
• The king gave a sum of money to the men (20 years or less) and to the women (16
years or less) when they married.
• The king gave poor native Catholic women a dowry (money, goods, or property that a
wife brings to her husband at marriage) when she married a French colonist.
• The king paid parents that had 10 or more living children.
3. Colonization program of the Church
• The objectives and roles of the Church were to evangelize (convert) the aboriginals, to
setup religious and social guidance (e.
(e.g.,
g., cure the sick, help orphans, teach children).
• The Church also encouraged large families.
• The Church established religious orders, missions, and parishes.
Mr. Mansour's History Class
History of Quebec and Canada
Page 10 of 22
Unit 2 Notes: The Evolution off Colonial Society Under French Rule (1608–1760)
Filles du Roi
• In 1663-73, les filles du roi (770 women orphans, beggars
beggars, and some prostitutes) were sent
by the king
ing to help populate the colony.
• Many were Protestant.
• Unmarried men had 15 days to marry or they would be denied hunting, fishing, and trading
rights (or worst).
Natural increase
• Since people were very religious and since the Church was encouraging large
lar families, the
population naturally increased
d with time
time. In fact, many historians will argue that the
colonization programs attempting to increase the population were nott very effective and that
population growth in the colony was mainly the result of natural increase (births).
(births)
• Population as a result of the colonization
olonization programs and births:
1627:
1645:
1665:
1673: 7
1745: 55
107
600
831
400
000
colonists (96 men to 11 women)
colonists
colonists (775
775 men and 56 women
women)
colonists
colonists (while
while the 13 Briti
British
sh Colonies had about 1 000 000)
NOTES:
Mr. Mansour's History Class
History of Quebec and Canada
Page 11 of 22
Unit 2 Notes: The Evolution off Colonial Society Under French Rule (1608–1760)
Cities in Canada (New France)
Occupation of the land
• Main cities were Quebec City, Three Rivers, and Montreal.
• Over the years, the territory
ory had expanded west and south and its population slowly increased.
Source: Campeau, Francis, & et. al. (2016). Reflections.qc.ca: Origins to 1840.. Montreal, QC: Chenelière Éducation.
Éducation
Social groups
• In the 1600s, colonists belonged to one of three social classes:
Nobility (2.5%): Governor, Intendant, high
high-ranking military officers;; they were wealthy.
Clergy (0.5%): Bishop, priests, brothers, nuns
nuns.. The bishop was fairly wealthy.
Third Estate (97%): Some seigneurs, small merchants, craftspeople, censitaires,
laborers, bourgeois. Other
er than the seigneurs, these people had no special privileges. The
bourgeois (a new and somewhat rich middle class) were fairly wealthy while the others
were ordinary or normally poor.
• Important balls (dances), plays, and concerts were attended by nobles a
and
nd the bourgeoisie.
Administrative and cultural
ural centers
• Most nobles and bourgeoisie settled in large cities like Quebec, Three Rivers,
Rivers and Montreal.
• These cities became important administrative and cultural centers. These administrative
a
centers is where major decisions were made on how New France was to be run.
run
Public space
• Also known as a public square, they were used by people from the countryside to sell their
products to those that lived in the city.
• Rural and urban citizens took the opportunity to socialize and catch up on the latest news.
Mr. Mansour's History Class
History of Quebec and Canada
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Unit 2 Notes: The Evolution off Colonial Society Under French Rule (1608–1760)
Seigneurial system
Objectives of the system
• To encourage settlement in New France
• To promote the distribution of the land in an orderly way
Social organization
• To start off the seigneurial system in New France, the King of France gave the mandate
(authorization) to the Company of One Hundred Associates to manage and distribute the
land in New France.
seigneurs They were
• The Company of One Hundred Associates granted tracts of land to seigneurs.
the holders and managers of the seigneurie.
• The Sulpiciens (a religious order) came to Montreal in 1657 and became the seigneurs of
the island.
• Seigneurs divided their seigneurie into smaller lots called censives (which measured about
abo
45 soccer fields or 176m x 1 755m).
• The censives were allotted to censitaires (peasant farmers).
Benefits to the government of France
•
•
•
•
The system attracted many French
rench citizens to settle in New France
France.
Fulfilled the king’s
ing’s initial objective of having more land, more riches
riches, and more people to rule over.
It developed the land of New France in an orderly way and it did not cost much to operate.
As the population of New France increased, the seigneuries expanded and the majority of the
food needed by the settlers was produced on the farms (people were now self-supporting).
self
• Since France was competing with many of their European rivals such as Spain and Britain,
having a larger colony aided them in accomplishing their conquest.
Duties of the Seigneur
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Duties of the Censitaire (tenant farmer)
Being faithful to the King
Keeping an account of the Seigneurie
Bringing in settlers and making sure the land got cleared
Paying taxes if he sold the Seigneurie
Had to build a place of worship (a Church) on the Seigneurie
Had to pay Church taxes
For the Censitaires, the Seigneur had to grantt concessions
(compromises), build a millll for grinding their grain, have roads
built, and hold a court to settle minor disputes
Benefits to the Seigneur
• For many of the following points, it is important to remember that
the French were very faithful to the Roman Catholic Church.
• Allowed
llowed to sit in the front pew (first row of seats) in Church
• To be served first during mass
• To be buried inside the Church
• Received monies and produce from the Censitaires
• Received yearly homage (show of respect) from the people on
May Day
Mr. Mansour's History Class
History of Quebec and Canada
• Had to clear his lot and grow crops
• Had to maintain the road near his land
• Had to give
ive the Seigneur first chance to buy his land if he wanted
to sell it
• Had to give 3 to 4 days of free labor to the Seigneur
• Had to pay homage (show of respect)) to the Seigneur
• Had to pay Church taxes
• Had to grind his grain at the Seigneur’s flourmill
Benefits to the Censitaire (tenant farmer)
•
•
•
•
The Censitaire was allowed to use the land
They had the opportunityy to grow crops and raise cattle
Received milling support for his grain
Was given the chance to attend Church
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Unit 2 Notes: The Evolution off Colonial Society Under French Rule (1608–1760)
Territorial organization
• Censives (plots of land) were perpendicular (90o) to the rivers to facilitate irrigation and
transportation, and to provide waterfront access to the greatest number of tenant farmers.
farmers
Source: Fortin, Sylvain, & et. al. (2009). Panoramas: History and Citizenship Education Cycle Two Year
Year. Montreal, QC: Chenelière Éducation.
Éducation
Social diversity of seigneurs
urs
• The seigneurs of New France came from diverse (various) social backgrounds.
• Some were nobles (upper class citizens), members of the bourgeoisie (new working middle
class), government administrators, or military officers.
Daily life
•
•
•
•
Most people lived in the country.
Families were self-dependent (could survive on their own)
own).
Homes were heated for the winters.
Activities:
Spring – collected and boiled maple sap, ploughed the land, and sowed (planted) crops
Summer – weeded, made hay
hay, and harvested crops
Fall
– preserved food, butchered animals
animals, and collected firewood
Winter – cared for animals in the barn, visited family/neighbors, made furniture/clothing
Animals consisted of turkeys, chicken (hens), sheep, pigs, oxen, cows, horses
Mr. Mansour's History Class
History of Quebec and Canada
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Unit 2 Notes: The Evolution off Colonial Society Under French Rule (1608–1760)
Economic diversificatio
on $$$
Obstacles to economic div
versification
• Initial economic activities of New France:
Fish
ish was the main economic resource.
Later, the economy was based on the fur trade.
Eventually, other resources like timber (wood) and metals were exploited.
exploited
• Most new economic activities promoted by the Intendants were not successful because of
the reasons listed in the section "C
"Crippling of new economies" (below).
Measures taken by intend
dants
• After 1663, France gave Intendant Jean Talon permission to diversify the economy.
He encouraged timber (wood) trade but not much timber was sold overseas because of
high transportation costs.
He began to manufacture ships
ships.
He encouraged farmers to grow more grain to sell overseas. However, farmers couldn't
produce more grain since they needed all the crops for their own needs.
He encouraged farmers to grow new types of plants.
He encouraged selective animal breeding
breeding.
He had colonists explore iron, copper, and coal
coal.
He built plants for making of tar (used for roofing, roads, waterproofing).
He built tanneries (a place where animal hide is transformed into leather).
He encouraged artisanal work (manufacturing of small products).
The economy therefore still relied on fur trading.
• New Intendants like Michel Bégon (1712-1726) and Gilles Hocquart (1729-1748),
(1729
also tried
to diversify the economy:
Encouraged cultivation of hemp (for rope making);
Encouraged timber exploitation for home and ship building;
Created several sawmills to cut trees into planks
planks;
Built naval shipyards in Quebec City to build warships
warships;
Exploited iron ore in Three Rivers;
Built a metal forge (a workshop where metal is heated and shaped into objects by
hammering) in St-Maurice; and
To
o transport products and people
people, a road (called Chemin du Roy)) was built in 1737 from
Quebec City to Three Rivers to Montreal
Montreal.
• Crippling of new economies – m
most new economic activities were not successful because:
Activities
ctivities like mining was only profitable if New France helped pay for it.
They required the skills of specialty workers that were rare and costly
costly;
Transportation was impossible on frozen waterways in the winter;
Many resources were located where few people lived; and
France forbid manufacturing of products, like fur hats, that would have helped New
France's economy.
Agricultural activities
New types of seeds were brought to New France to grow:
Hemp used to make rope;
Flax used to make sails; and
Hops to make beer.
Growing hemp and flax was profitable since they were needed for building ships.
Animal husbandry was practiced by some farmers to selectively breed and raise livestock
to promote desirable traits.
Mr. Mansour's History Class
History of Quebec and Canada
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Unit 2 Notes: The Evolution off Colonial Society Under French Rule (1608–1760)
Artisanal work
Artisanal work was encouraged for making furniture, decorative arts, religious paintings,
p
religious sculptures,, clothing, jewelry, household items, and tools.
This made residents of the colony more self
self-sufficient (independent).
With time, other craftspeople such as painters, carpenters, brick masons, and blacksmiths
emerged.
Triangular trade
• One way to increase the wealth of the king and his country was to use triangular trade.
trade
France organized trade between France, New France, and the French West Indies. Colonies
provided raw materials to the mother country where goods were made from these materials.
These goods were sold within the country and to other countri
countries,
es, and were also shipped
back to the colonies for sale. Mother countries would profit.
• For more information, refer to mercantilism at the beginning of these notes.
NOTES:
Mr. Mansour's History Class
History of Quebec and Canada
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Unit 2 Notes: The Evolution off Colonial Society Under French Rule (1608–1760)
Adaptation of the colon
nists
European cultural footprint
nt
• The colonists, retained their cultural personalities from France (language and way of life).
• Colonists in the St-Lawrence
Lawrence Valley were known as the Canadiens.
• Colonists that lived in the Maritimes (present
(present-day
day Nova Scotia and Newfoundland) were
known as Acadians.
Geographical distance from
rom the mother country
• Although New France was thousands of kilometers from France, it was ruled by the King of
France. Members of the Royal Government could make decisions regarding administration of
the colony.
• Because France was a 20-40
40 day distance by ship, and because of the cost of traveling,
most Canadiens didn't return to their mother country.
• Those that were born in New France
rance didn't have an interest in visiting.
Acclimatization
• Acclimatize is the act of adjusting or adapting to a new climate, place, or situation.
• The Canadiens (French colonists) had to adapt to the cold harsh winters of the St-Lawrence
St
Valley.
• The colonists had to change their ways:
How they dressed – an overcoat, a wool belt (to tighten the coat to keep the wind out), a
wool hat, and modified moccasins (with leather added to cover the lower leg).
How they built and heated houses
houses; and
How they transported things.
Relations with the Native pe
peoples
• Habitants were more independent and less obedient than newly arrived Frenchmen.
• The vast territory and aboriginal influence contributed to their attitude.
• The Canadiens began to use aboriginal practices like using the canoe and snowshoes.
• The Canadiens and First Nations allies lived side-by-side in the St-Lawrence
Lawrence Valley.
Valley
• Some aboriginals saw themselves as French allies and lived close or within the French
villages. These villages domicilié included aboriginal shelters,, homes for the Canadiens, a
church, and the practice of the Roman Catholic faith.
Source: Campeau, Francis, & et. al. (2016). Reflections.qc.ca: Origins to 1840.
1840 Montreal, QC: Chenelière Éducation.
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History of Quebec and Canada
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Unit 2 Notes: The Evolution off Colonial Society Under French Rule (1608–1760)
Native population
Residents
• Some aboriginals saw themselves as French alli
allies
es and lived close or within the villages
domicilié (see previous page).
Acculturation
• Contact with the Europeans led to the natives gradually acquiring the culture of the French
Europeans (the natives became more like the French).
• Europeans influenced the natives by:
Providing them with metal arrow heads, metal axes, metal harpoons;
Modifying their culture (way of doing things, how they dressed, what they ate);
Converting them to the Roman Catholic fait
faith; and
Forming family unions with them – the Métis (the children of a First Nations and European
couple).
Métissage
• Métis (pronounced “may-tee”)
tee”) is a group of people consisting of a mix of the First Nations
Peoples and the white European.
Susceptibility to infectious
ous diseases
• The
he Europeans spread many infections and diseases to the natives in the 15 to 1700s:
1700s
Smallpox or red plague (causes fever and scar
scar-producing
producing pimple eruptions that could lead to blindness
and limb deformities);
Typhus (causes fever, headaches, rash, and delirium);
Cholera (causes acute
ute and fatal intestinal disease with severe diarrhea symptoms);
Chicken pox (causes skin rash, itchy blisters which eventually scab over, fever, feeling tired, headaches,
and could lead to pneumonia and inflammation of the brain); and
The flu.
NOTES:
Mr. Mansour's History Class
History of Quebec and Canada
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Unit 2 Notes: The Evolution off Colonial Society Under French Rule (1608–1760)
Intercolonial wars
Colonial empires
• France and Britain were the chief powers in western Europe. There they had been rivals for
hundreds of years.
• The French were interested in controlling continental Europe while the British were interested
in establishing a worldwide colonial empire.
• When the two countries
tries fought in Europe, fighting spread to their colonies in India, the
Caribbean Islands, and North America.
• Britain had a much larger navy and sent more troops to help their colonies defend
themselves.
• France was more interested in protecting their mother country and sent few troops to help
their colonies.
Objects of colonial rivalries
ies
• Since it was a profitable business, France and Britain both wanted to control the fur trade in
North America.
• To do this, they wanted to expand their territory.
• Both countries contested (argued and fought over) the territory around the Hudson Bay. This
was a land rich with fur-bearing
bearing animals.
Power relations
• Since colonists had to obey the laws and policies of their mother country, they had to
participate in the battles when asked.
The First Intercolonial War (1689
(1689-1697)
• This war lasted 8 years.
• In North America, the French raided villages in New England and captured British forts in
Acadia and Newfoundland.
• Eventually, after the Treaty of Ryswick was signed in the Netherlands in 1697,
697, the forts were
given back.
The Second Intercolonial War (1702
(1702-1713)
• This war lasted 11 years.
• The French once again raided New England and captured forts in Newfoundland and on the
coast of the Hudson Bay.
• The British captured Port Royal (in Nova Scotia).
• Eventually, France gave up Acadia, Newfoundland, and the Hudson Bay area after the
Treaty of Utrecht was signed in 1713 (see below).
NOTES:
Mr. Mansour's History Class
History of Quebec and Canada
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Unit 2 Notes: The Evolution off Colonial Society Under French Rule (1608–1760)
The Third Intercolonial War (1744
(1744-1748)
• This war lasted 4 years.
• The French once again raided New England.
• The British captured the Louisbourg fort (located on Ile Royale in today’s Nova Scotia).
• Britain returned the fort to the French when the Treaty of Aix
Aix-la-Chapelle
Chapelle was signed in 1748.
Treaty of Utrecht (1713)
• This treaty (official agreement) temporarily ended the struggle between Great Britain and
France.
• Its provisions (terms) left the door open for more disputes, which ultimately led to the Seven
Years' War.
• With this treaty, France surrendered claims of the Hudson Bay tterritories,
erritories, Newfoundland, and
Acadia.
The War of the Conquest (1754
(1754-1760)
• In 1754, the French and the British confronted each other in Acadia and in the Ohio Valley,
near Lake Champlain,, New York
York.
• They were arguing and fighting over territories.
• In North America, this war led to the conquest (take
(take-over)
over) of New France in 1760. This is why
the War of the Conquest is another name used in North America for the Seven Years' War.
• Although fighting stopped in North America, fighting continued in other colonies an
and in
Europe until the end of the Seven Years' War in 1763.
The Fourth Intercolonial Wa
War, 1756-1763 (a.k.a. Seven Years’ War
ar or The French
and Indian War)
• Hostilities began in 1754 (which would make it 11 years long), but Britain didn't declare war on France
until 1756. The War of the Conquest spread to Europe, the West Indies, Africa, and Asia.
• The French and Indian War mostly refers to the American phase of the Seven Years' War.
• The French and British were now arguing and fighting over territories around the world.
• During this
is time of conflict, the New France built large fortresses to protect themselves from
invaders. The fortress of Louisbourg was located in Ile Royale (today’s Nova Scotia).
• Some First Nations sided with the French while others sided with the British. Pontiac, Chief
of the Ottawa Nation, sided with the French while Brant,, Chief of the Mohawk sided with the
British. Pontiac resisted the British in the Great Lakes region.
• The Siege
ege of Quebec lasted 10 weeks.
• The Battle of the Plains of Abraham began on September 13th 1759 (led by the French
leader Marquis Louis Joseph Montcalm and the English leader General James Wolfe). It
ended with a British victory.
• Montreal capitulated (surrender
surrender without fighting
fighting) on September 1760.. The French and
British agreed to certain terms by signing the Articles of Capitulation.
NOTES:
Mr. Mansour's History Class
History of Quebec and Canada
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Unit 2 Notes: The Evolution off Colonial Society Under French Rule (1608–1760)
War of the Conquest (1754
(1754-1760)
In North America, this war led to the conquest (take
(take-over)
over) of New France in 1760. This
is why the War of the Conquest is another name used in North America for the Seven
Years' War. Although fighting stopped in North America, fighting continued in other
colonies and in Europe until the end of the Seven Years' War in 1763.
Clashes in Ohio (1754)
• France and Great Britain contested the territory in the Ohio Valley
Valley. This region was important
to control since it was access to the Great Lakes region.
• In 1754, George Washington and militiamen were sent to show their power and forced a
group of 30 French soldiers and their officers Joseph Coulon de Villiers and his brother Sieur
Jumonville to retreat. They captured and killed officer Jumonville.
• His brother Joseph Coulon de Villiers retaliated by attacking George Washington and forced
them to surrender.
Deportation of the Acadian
ns (1755)
• The British feared that the Acadians (currently living in today’s New Brunswick and Nova
Scotia) would side with the French.
• British authorities wanted to encourage British immigration to Nova Scotia which was then
populated by Acadians.
• On August 10th 1755, the British ordered the expulsion of 10 000 Acadians that would not
sign an agreement whereby they would be faithful to the English monarch.
Capture of Louisbourg (1758)
• The fortress of Louisbourg (built by the French to protect themselves from invaders)
capitulated (gave up without fighting) to the 28 000 British soldiers.
• This allowed the British to control fishing activities and access to the St-Lawrence
Lawrence River.
British advance in the St. Lawrence Valley
• By 1713, the British had occupied territory in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and parts of
Quebec. They were advancing slowly towards other French territory.
Siege of Québec (1759)
• In the spring of 1759, British James Wolfe and 39 000 soldiers bombarded and attacked
Quebec City.
• The French setup a line of defense and the British retreated.
NOTES:
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History of Quebec and Canada
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Unit 2 Notes: The Evolution off Colonial Society Under French Rule (1608–1760)
Battle of the Plains of Abrah
braham (1759)
• The Battle of the Plains of Abraham began on September 13, 1759.
• The French were led by the Marquis Louis Joseph Montcalm.
• The English were led by General James Wolfe. He died on the Plains during the battle.
• The battle ended with a British victory.
• Reasons for British success:
Great Britain supplied more soldiers;
Great Britain supplied more war ships; and
Great Britain put more money towards the North American conflict
conflict,, while France was
focusing on the war in Europe
Europe.
Battle of Sainte-Foy (1760)
• In spring 1760, the French returned to Quebec City to try to recapture it.
• Commander Chevalier de Lévis and 7 000 men won a battle but couldn't recapture Quebec.
• British ships then arrived with more supplies and since the French couldn't compete, they left
the city.
• The British then proceeded towards Montreal.
Montreal (1760)
• Montreal capitulated (give
give up without fighting
fighting) and the written agreement made between the
British and the French, known as the Articles of Capitulation,, outlined the terms of
surrender.
• The Canadiens were allowed to keep their property, they would be allowed to remain
Catholic, nuns could stay but Jesuits priests would have to leave and the people would
become British subjects (they had to obey British rules).
Canadian militia in 1759
•
•
•
•
•
District of Québec: 5 640 militiamen
District of Montréal: 5 455 militiamen
District of Three Rivers: 1 300 militiamen
Acadian Militia: 150 militiamen
Cavalry: 200 cavalrymen
NOTES:
Mr. Mansour's History Class
History of Quebec and Canada
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Unit 2 Notes: The Evolution off Colonial Society Under French Rule (1608–1760)