7.2 New France
New France Social hierarchy like in Europe Difficulty getting people to move in Northwest passage? Coureurs de bois Beaver fur brown gold
Giovanni da Verrazzano 1523-4 Florentine navigator convinced king, Francis I, to commission an expedition to find a western route to Cathay small caravel with 50 men. exploring coast of present-day Carolinas eventually anchoring in Narrows of New York Bay first European to discover site of present-day New York voyage convinced king to seek to establish a colony in newly discovered land
Jacques Cartier 1534 claimed land in name of King Francois I first province of New France initial French attempts at settling region met with failure. French fishing fleets sail to Atlantic coast and into St. Lawrence River alliances with First Nations
French merchants soon realized St. Lawrence region was full of valuable furbearing animals beaver becoming rare in Europe
French trading companies 1580s ships were contracted to bring back furs. lack of historical records Early attempts at establishing permanent settlements were failures
Rivalry over Fur Trade
Founding of Quebec 1608 sponsor = Henry IV Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons & Samuel de Champlain founded city of Quebec with 28 men second permanent French settlement in colony of Canada Colonization was slow and difficult Many settlers died early, harsh wear and diseases
Samuel de Champlain 1609 allied with Algonquin and Montagnais Were at war with Iroquois accompanied by his Algonquin, Montagnais and Huron allies travelled south from St. Lawrence valley to Lake Champlain participated decisively in a battle against Iroquois killing two Iroquois chiefs with first shot of his Arquebus. military engagement against Iroquois set future relations
Samuel de Champlain
Century: Iroquois and French clashed in a series of attacks and reprisals France arranged to have young French men live with natives to learn language & customs help French adapt to life in North America. coureurs des bois extended French influence south and west to Great Lakes and among Huron tribes who lived War and Adaptation
English colonies periodically raid St. Lawrence valley
Cardinal Richelieu adviser to Louis XIII make New France = English colonies French population numbered only a few hundred English colonies to south were much more populous &wealthy. 1627 founded Company of One Hundred Associates to invest in New France promising land parcels to hundreds of new settlers and to turn Canada into an important mercantile and farming colony Champlain named Governor of New France non-roman Catholics banned introduced seigneurial system a semi-feudal system of farming remained a characteristic feature of St. Lawrence valley until 19th century.
Roman Catholic Church missionaries such as Recollets and Jesuits Firmly established wanted to establish a utopian Christian community in colony.
Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve 1642 sponsored a group of settlers founded Ville-Marie precursor to present-day Montreal 1640s Jesuit missionaries penetrated Great Lakes region and converted many of Huron natives. conflict with Iroquois, who frequently attacked Montreal. measles! severely underpopulated New France almost fell completely to hostile Iroquois forces late 100s Waves of recruits came in response to requests for men with specific skills farming, apothecaries, blacksmiths. As couples married, cash incentives to have large families
Filles du Roi Louis XIV decided to send single women, aged between 15 and 30 known as King's Daughters les filles du roi paid for passage granted goods or money as a dowry ~800 arrived during 1663 1673 King's Daughters found husbands among within a year or two came on own choice many because could not make a favorable marriage in social hierarchy in France One of Mr. Jones 10 th great-grandmothers was Anne Rivet, a Fille du Roi.
New France Society Notes marriages with natives encouraged indentured servants known as engagés women played a major role in establishing family life, civil society, and enabling rapid demographic growth. was a high demand for children, Women bore about 30% more children than comparable women who remained in France. some women participated in fur trade worked at home alongside husbands or as merchants, clerks etc. Some were widows who took over husband's roles.
Faux Sauniers 1714-1754 Salt smugglers "faux-saunier" = salt-smuggler In France, price of salt varied by region salt-smuggler carries salt he purchases from an area where the price is low to another region where the price is higher reason behind the active smuggling of salt until the gabelle (salt tax) abolished able to amass large fortunes seen by French citizens as heroes against an arbitrary and oppressive tax of a common good necessary to life.
Rene Ouellette (Houallet) 1635-1722 Rene Ouelette Gregoire Ouellette Sebastien Ouellette Modeste Ouellette Marie Fournier Marguerite Prevost Hedwegia Segar Henry Nason Amelia Nason Mildred Preston Dee Preston-Dillon David Jones One of Mr. Jones 10 th greatgrandfathers was Rene Ouellette, one of the earliest settlers of Quebec. His second wife was Anne Rivet.
From the Drouin Collection, Rene Ouellette marries second wife, Therese Migneault.
Growth of New France