The fight for the resources of Canada

The Fur Trade

Quick reviewEurope wants wealth and power

= mercantilism, imperialism Search for NW Passage to Asia

John Cabot claims Nfld for England, and discovers wealth in fish in the grand banks

Jacques Cartier explores the St. Lawrence for France – sees value in fur, insults Iroquois

Samuel de Champlain sets up colony of New France and starts the Fur trade for France, also makes enemy of the Iroquois

Exploration World Map

Champlain and the start of the fur trade sets up colony of New France

(Quebec), and is first Governor, in order to set up the fur trade

Alliance with Huron – get furs, but hated by the Iroquois

Hire “Coureur s de Bois” – “runners of the woods” to explore inland, make alliances with Natives, set up fur tradeMany marry Native WomenStrong, independent, brave men

English and French Land Claims: 1645

Value in Fur all fur valuable for clothing,

coats, bedding

Beaver Fur most valuable – under fur used to make felt for hats!

HUGE demand – new hat fashions each year

Monopoly on fur trade = mercantilism (makes that country the richest and most powerful)

French Fur TradeVarious fur trading companies work

for France(example: Company of 100 associates)

Workers are men each with a share in company, or independent workersMen canoe to Natives, and gather

fursTrade goods including fire arms and

alcohol to natives for fursCoureur de bois become Voyageurs

Take furs to Montreal, canoe out St. Lawrence to ship to FranceConstant interference with Iroquois

Voyageurs Called themselves “Canadiens”

Fur traders from New France famous fro strength, endurance,

knowledge of wilderness

Paddled canoes between fort William and Montreal collecting furs – thousands of km

Voyageurs

Camp under canoe, sing songs, eat pemmicanPemmican: buffalo meat, fat, and

berries

Portage = forced to carry goods / canoe/ furs over land to go around rapids, waterfalls, connect to new river

Radisson and Groseillies2 French Voyageurs (fur traders)

Sick and tired of fighting the Iroquois on the St. Lawrence to ship furs

Alternative: ship out Hudson’s Bay

Take idea to French King Louis XIV – he takes their furs and says NO!

Go to English King Charles II – he says YES! and creates the Hudson’s Bay Company

HBC and Rupert’s LandEngland is imperialistic –

Claim all the Land (and Fur) around Hudson’s Bay for England

Call it “Rupert’s Land” after Prince Rupert

1670: King gives a Charter to the New Hudson’s Bay Company giving them all the rights to the land and fur trade in Rupert’s Land

HBC and Rupert’s Land

Land controlled by HBC in 1700

Land rights controlled by HBC in 1764

Land rights controlled by HBC in 1850

HBC Trading PostSet up trading posts at mouths of

rivers on Hudson’s Bay (and James’ Bay)

Natives bring furs to Trading Post (different form French voyageurs)

See p. 259 for map

Posts manned year-round, but Ships come to take furs to England (and bring supplies) once per year

Head trader: FactorPower over Day to day in Post

HBC Trading PostStaff: clerks, boat loaders and

builders, carpenters, blacksmiths, servants Are employees and paid a salary,

work long hours

Discouraged form marrying Native Women, banned from trading Alcohol

Buildings: main depot, church, guest house, hospital, cooperage (barrels), smithy, bake house, fur storage, provisions house, officers’ quarters, servants quarters, etc.

HBC Trading PostLong, cold winterBoring except when ship

arrives – new supplies and letters form home = celebration!

Trade goods for furs (to natives)List p. 261

Beaver pelts become currency1 “made beaver” (MB) or

“buck” sets value/ priceSee chart p. 261

Map of Fort Langley

English and French: MonopolyFrance and England both Claim

Land and Fur rights - Both want a monopoly

NWCAfter 1763, the French Companies

are combined (under Scottish/ American Ownership) to 1 company: NORTH WEST COMPANY

Huge competition between HBC and NWC

NWC uses Voyageurs, controls st. Lawrence, great lakes and interior rivers/ lakes, deals directly with Native groups

Forces HBC to move inland when they intercept/ take furs

2 companies will merge in 1821

Women in Fur Trade Traders married Native Women – called

“country wives” Half native, half French called “Metis”

Women were interpreters, diplomats, negotiators,

Knowledge was essential to survival of fur traders

Married for social connections Provide knowledge of customs,

knowledge of land, made snowshoes, moccasins, clothes, supplied local food, firewood, made and operated birch bark canoes, dried meat for winter

Some men abandoned their country wives and returned to Europe