Early Exploration of Michigan

• The St. Lawrence River provided a crucial pathway for the first Europeans (the French) to reach Michigan, making it part of the French empire.
• The French primarily explored the region for fur trade and to discover a route to the Orient, utilizing rivers and the Great Lakes.
• Conflict arose when the French became entangled in a war between Native American tribes, influencing their future actions.
• Early French life was challenging, and settlement progressed slowly.

Pathway to Michigan

• The St. Lawrence River acted as a vital route into North America.
• Rivers were essential for travel when the first Europeans arrived.
• The St. Lawrence River provided a ready-made route for sailing ships and canoes, utilized by indigenous peoples for centuries.
• The river led adventurers from Europe southwest into North America, eventually reaching Michigan.
• Early Michigan history is intricately linked to the St. Lawrence River and the people who navigated it.
• The river connects to the Great Lakes, which surround Michigan, shaping the state's history.
• The arrival of Europeans via the river brought irreversible changes to the land.

Rivals in a New World

• Four European countries—England, France, Holland, and Spain—competed for control of North America.
• The Spanish settled in the southern United States and Central and South America.
• The Dutch from Holland established themselves in present-day New York State.
• Jacques Cartier, a key figure, was sent by the king of France in 1534 to discover a westward passage to the Orient (China, Japan, India).
• Europeans sought a route to the Orient to profit from spices and silk.

Up the St. Lawrence!

• Cartier set sail from France with two ships, exploring the mouth of the St. Lawrence River.
• He landed on the Gaspe’ Peninsula and befriended local Native Americans, taking two back to France.
• Cartier named the bay at the river's start after Saint Lawrence.
• He learned from tribesmen about a kingdom called Canada, which is the Huron-Iroquois word for village.
• The name "Canada" later became synonymous with all land north of the United States.
• The failure to find a route to the Orient initially diminished French interest in further exploration.

Fish and Furs Keep Them Coming

• Despite initial setbacks, fishermen frequented the ocean near Newfoundland for its abundant fish.
• Sailors traded European metal knives, hatchets, fish hooks, and pots for Indian furs with the natives.
• Furs were highly valued in Europe, especially by the wealthy, and were used in expensive clothing.
• The type and amount of fur worn reflected a person's social rank.
• Beaver hats, popular in England since the late 1300s, and fur-trimmed coats were in demand.
• By the 1500s, many fur-bearing animals became scarce in Europe, leading to the increased value of North American furs.

The French King Takes Action

• Around 1600, the King of France initiated settlement in North America, granting exclusive fur trading rights to a company.
• The company held a fur trading monopoly, having total market control.
• The first company faced difficulties, resulting in the monopoly being transferred to a new company.
• The new company's monopoly covered a vast area between latitudes 40 and 46 degrees north.

A Great Frenchman Challenges the Wilderness

• Samuel de Champlain, an experienced soldier and sailor, joined the second company.
• In 1604, they attempted a settlement on the southwest side of Nova Scotia.
• Champlain charted the harbor, years before the Pilgrims arrived in Massachusetts.
• Illegal fur trading was an ongoing issue, prompting Champlain to suggest settling farther up the St. Lawrence River.

First Settlement on the St. Lawrence

• In 1608, three ships departed from France to establish a settlement.
• Champlain selected a location where the river narrows, called Kebec (narrow place) by Native Americans.
• The French renamed it Quebec, marking the beginning of a major city.
• Champlain faced conflict with fur traders opposing the monopoly; violence ensued.
• Despite challenges, buildings were erected, and crops were planted.
• A severe winter resulted in high mortality, leaving only eight survivors by spring.
• Two boys, Etienne and Nicolas, spent the winter learning the Indian language, proving valuable later.

Helping Friends with Musket Balls!

• Champlain learned about conflicts with the Iroquois tribes and sought to bring peace.
• The Iroquois, also known as the Five Nations, lived south of the St. Lawrence River.
• Friendly tribes traded with the French.
• Champlain joined friendly warriors and 20 Frenchmen in canoes to battle the Iroquois.
• On July 29, 1609, they encountered an Iroquois war party.
• On the 29th of July 1609, Champlains group met around 200 Iroquois warriors
• Champlain's shot killed two chiefs and wounded a third, altering history.
• The French became involved in the war between the Iroquois and their enemies.
• The surprise muskets caused the Iroquois to retreat, but this was only the beginning of the conflict.

The "Friendly" Dutch

• The Dutch established New Amsterdam (New York), settling in what they called New York.
• The Dutch maintained good relationships with the Iroquois.
• The Hudson River, flowing near Lake Champlain, aided trade between the Dutch and Iroquois.
• The French were unhappy with the Dutch trading practices.

More French Exploring

• Champlain continued to search for a passage to the Orient.
• Native Americans spoke of a salt sea to the west and a great sea to the north.
• Indians, Etienne and Nicolas knew the tribal languages well.
• Etienne, named Brule, traveled west, seeing Lake Huron, becoming the first European to see Lake Huron and other Great Lakes.
• Brule' did not record his travels and disappeared for extended periods.
• Lake Ontario discovered in 1615.
• 1622 Brule' and Grenoble helped find the way to Michigan.
• The French now were familiar with most of the Great Lakes and knew of Michigan.
• They did all of this by following the rivers and lakes.

A Competitor Takes Over!

• The British seized New France in 1630.
• Etienne Brulé and Nicolas helped the British.
• Champlain taken prisoner but was later released due to peace declarations and returned to New France.

The End of Brule'

• Etienne Brule', the first European to see Michigan
• Brule' met a sad end.
• Huron Indians tortured and killed him.

The Jean Nicolet Story

• Champlain sent Jean Nicolet to find China in 1634.
• Nicolet traveled through the Straits of Mackinac and Lake Michigan shore.
• Nicolet put on a robe and announced his presence to the first Indian village.
• Nicolet's arrival attracted 4,000 or 5,000 Indians.

The Father of New France Dies

• Champlain died in 1635.
• He called the "Father of New France."
• Champlain wanted to build cities and make the New France a great country.
• Champlain wrote four books about his adventures.