Samuel de Champlain
and New France
Ch. 8 (p. 223-228)
After Cartier and Roberval
Land in Canada claimed by France was
called New France
French focus in New France on fishing and
trade
– Furs becoming more valuable in Europe
– First Nations trade furs for metal goods
Late 1500s: make several attempts at
establishing a colony, but none succeed
Samuel de Champlain
A navigator and former soldier very
interested in the New World
1604: made an assistant of Sieur de Monts
who was in charge of setting up trading
posts in Canada
1605: de Monts and Champlain establish a
60-person trading post called Port Royal in
Nova Scotia
Port Royal
Located in southern Nova Scotia
Business was not as good as was hoped
– Poor location, away from furs and traders
To increase morale, Champlain started the
Order of Good Cheer (Ordre de Bon Temps)
– Group that held regular feasts and parties
1607: trading post failed, some settlers
stayed and became farmers (first Acadians)
Port Royal
Port Royal
Quebec
1608: Champlain establishes a habitation
where Stadacona used to be, calls it Quebec
Quebec was the first permanent settlement
in North America
Location chosen because of high cliffs
(natural defence against attack), close to fur
trade
Quebec - Then
Quebec - Now
Quebec
Champlain became allies with the Algonkians
and Montagnais against the Iroquois
– In exchange, Algonkians and Montagnais would
only trade furs with the French
– Champlain and the French had to choose sides to
be successful
French participated in an Algonkian raid
against the Iroquois
– French guns helped them win
Read p. 228