The Golden Age of The Golden Age of New FranceNew France

1663-17631663-1763© Ruth Writer© Ruth Writer

Two Colonies of New FranceTwo Colonies of New France

• Acadia– Bay of Fundy– Small farm communities– Port Royale

• St. Lawrence– Saguenay– Quebec City– Montreal– Trois Rivieres, others

• Separated by geography

French Settlements 1650French Settlements 1650

George Sherman. O’Canada: its geography, history and the people who call it home. Plattsburgh: Center for the Study of Canada, 1995.

A New King RulesA New King RulesLouis XIV--1663Louis XIV--1663

• Canada became royal colony– Province of France

• King wanted more control, farming• Jean Baptiste Colbert—administrator

– Economy, settlement, defense [key]• Tighter knit series of settlements• Self sufficiency• Trade center—furs, lumber, fish, markets,

minerals

HierarchyHierarchy

• KING AT TOP• Ministers• No self government• Did have freedom—so far away

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_XIV_of_France

Government of New FranceGovernment of New France1663-17631663-1763

• Governor General• Bishop• Intendant

• http://tothevillagesquare.org/2008/03/14/ode-to-the-three-legged-stool/

Government of New FranceGovernment of New France

http://www.uppercanadahistory.ca/finna/finna5a.html

Governor GeneralGovernor GeneralFrontenac—twice—20 yearsFrontenac—twice—20 years

• Expanded into interior• Set up fur trade routes to support colony• Built forts—end round British [told not to]• Sent Marquette & Jolliet in 1673• Michigan really explored• LaSalle—1679—Griffon

– 1682—to Gulf of Mexico– Lead French to Louisiana www.axl.cefan.ulaval.ca 

http://www.uppercanadahistory.ca/finna/finna5a.html

LaSalleLaSalle

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/326519/Rene-Robert-Cavelier-sieur-de-La-Salle http://www.elisedallaire.com/45/la_salle_s_griffon.htm;

BISHOPBISHOPLavalLaval

• Leader of Roman Catholics in New France– Few Protestants—Huguenots

• Religion– Represented Pope

• Missionaries• Education• Tolerated Protestants but no standing• (From a painting in Laval University) http://www.uppercanadahistory.ca/finna/finna5a.html

INTENDANTINTENDANTTalonTalon

• Bureaucrat--adminstrator• Power and responsibility• Commerce• Finance• Law and order—justice• Seigneurial system—land division and

ownership system• Jean Talon Intendant of New France

(After a painting in the Hotel Dieu, Quebec) http://www.uppercanadahistory.ca/finna/finna5a.html

Three BranchesThree Branches

• Work together• Have a plan• Develop the colony• Chain of command broke down • Distance--problematic

New France SavedNew France Saved

• Meddling helped• Iroquois at peace from 1667 for 20 years• Without interference New France would

collapse• Acadia expanded• New life breathed into colony• Total royal control

1663 population1663 population

• Less than 2500 laborers, soldiers• 1000 were female• Encouraged birth rate increase• Encouraged immigration• BUT…

ImmigrationImmigration

• Men paid for passage with work• 3 years of indenture—engages• Got passage, small wage, room, board• No requirement to stay

– 50% returned to France• Military—professional troops

– Along Richelieu River– Fought Mohawks

Filles Du Roi—1663-1673Filles Du Roi—1663-1673

• “King’s daughters” with royal dowry• Approximately 1000• Orphans or from poor families• Marguerite Bourgeoys housed them• Jesuits preferred recommended women

– Piety– Virtue– Could not reject husbandPainting—www.wikipedia.com

Women ArriveWomen Arrive

https://maryloudriedger2.wordpress.com/tag/new-france/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Canadian_women; http://www.thievin.net/cote.php; https://ancestryquebec.wordpress.com/2012/06/04/filles-du-roi-kings-daughters/; http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/quebec-city/

http://www.thievin.net/cote.php

Population GrewPopulation Grew

• Men fined if did not marry• Paid bonus if had BIG families• 10 years grew to 7000• By 1680s more than 10,000• In 100 years from 2500 to 60,000• HAD to encourage large families

Seigneurial SystemSeigneurial System

• This is why Quebec is STILL French Canada

• Land grants• Tried to import French feudal system• Large tract of land to seigneur—5-600 ac.• Intendant in charge of this system

http://www.mcq.org/code/en/documents/the-rise-seigneuries-space-16.htmlNational Geographic—graphic created for map of New France

Seigneuries—elite society Seigneuries—elite society

• Pledge loyalty to king• Defend colony—military• Judge in local arguments• Support church by sponsoring cure [priest]• Find settlers• Subdivide land for habitants• Find trees for ships and masts• Find minerals for king• Build manor house and MILL

Homes of SeigneuriesHomes of Seigneuries

http://myriverside.sd43.bc.ca/karab-2013/2014/06/07/new-france-scrapbook/ http://www.thievin.net/cote.php

Wealthy of New FranceWealthy of New FrancePendule or bracket clock with a mechanism made by Charles LeRoy of Paris and a case in the rococo style. Made in Paris circa 1730-50. King Louis XV is said to have sent it to New France as a gift to Charles LeMoyne, a prominent member of the colony’s…elite.

http://www.sophocles.com/duval/page2.html

Habitants had to:Habitants had to:• Pay rent in % of crop• Work seigneur’s personal land—needed large family• Clear land for farming--#1 task• Use crop rotation

– Wheat– Peas– Oats– Barley– Rye– Corn

• Serve in militia if called• Give 4% of crop to church

• Crop photos from www.wikipedia.com

HabitantsHabitants

http://www.historymuseum.ca/virtual-museum-of-new-france/population/social-groups/

Habitant DressHabitant Dress

http://www.billcasselman.com/quebec_sayings/quebec_bread_habitant.htm

Famous Art of New FranceFamous Art of New France

Habitant’s home—Cornelius Kriefhoff—1870—following two are also Kriefhoff art

Towns and TradeTowns and Trade

URBAN NEW FRANCEURBAN NEW FRANCE

• 20-33% lived in urban areas• Unprecedented elsewhere

– Life different than farmer or seigneur– Less inclined to accept authority

• Tradesmen/merchants– Wanted to share political power– Desire to own land—landed gentry– Some were women

http://lewisparker.ca/selectedworks/NewFrance.html

New France TodayNew France Today

The Nystrom Atlas of Canada and the World. Chicago: Nystrom, 2003

Links between urban areasLinks between urban areas

• Rivers– Summer– Winter

• Road by 1730

• http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/quebec-city/

Quebec CityQuebec City

• Administrative capital• Governor General’s residence• Largest city in New Francehttps://acanadianfamily.wordpress.com/2012/01/04/historical-image-corpus-christi-procession-quebec-city-canadian-family/procession-old-

town-quebec-city-corpus-christie-ca-1914-001/

Quebec City is 400 years oldQuebec City is 400 years old

https://www.ville.quebec.qc.ca/en/touristes/connaitre/histoire/index.aspx

MontrealMontreal

• Religious center– Church– Bishop’s home– Education– Hotel Dieu—hospital– http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/archives/democratie/democratie_en/expo/montreal/nouvelle-france/piece9/index.shtm

• Fur trade center– Lachinehttp://www.devmcgill.com/fr/blog/3051/decouvrez-le-vieux-lachine-a-pied-en-canot-ou-en-velo

– Intendant’s home– Saint Gabriel’s home– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregation_of_Notre_Dame_of_Montreal

MontrealMontreal

http://www.maisonsaint-gabriel.qc.ca/en/musee/chr-01.php http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/1700_au_Canada#/media/File:CarteIsleMontreal1700.jpg

Diversity in EconomyDiversity in Economy

• Shipbuilding• Trade—commerce• Merchants• Financial centers• Shops with many items for sale

Slaves also in New FranceSlaves also in New France

• 4000 panis• From First Nations to Islands to Africans• Used as servants• Not as frequently as field slaves• Marie-Joseph Angelique: slave, arsonist

– 1734– Rebel or Victim???

Slaves in New FranceSlaves in New France

http://www.historymuseum.ca/virtual-museum-of-new-france/population/slavery/ http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/marie_joseph_angelique_2E.html

New France: Distinct SocietyNew France: Distinct Society

• Unique population in several generations– Canadiens– New values--more independent in thought– Not eating as French did– Not dressing in French style—habitants

• Freedom of movement– Always lure of land to WEST– Could throw out seigneur

• Breaking rules of crown and church

ResourcesResources• http://www.historymuseum.ca/virtual-museum-of-new-france/introduction/ • http://www.maisonsaint-gabriel.qc.ca/en/musee/chr-01.php• Moore, Christopher, “Colonization and Conflict: New France and its Rivals.” Brown, Craig editor. The Illustrated

History of Canada. Toronto: Lester Publishing Limited, 2007. [pages 166-180]• See, Scott. History of Canada. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2001. [pages 47-56]