European Exploration of Canada

The French initially explored and settled North America, but faced challenges like scurvy and hostility from Indigenous groups.

The English were also seeking a Northwest Passage and competed with the French.

The fur trade became a major driving force for the French return to North America.

A system where individuals or groups were given exclusive rights to trade in specific regions.

The Marquis de la Roche was given a monopoly over trade in Canada by King Henry IV in 1598.

The French faced difficulties establishing successful settlements in Canada due to various factors.

In 1603, Pierre de Monts was granted a trade monopoly in exchange for establishing settlements.

Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec in 1608 as a strategic location for fur trade and control of the St. Lawrence River.

The Montagnais allied with the French, providing trade goods and support in their conflicts with the Iroquois.

The French sought direct trade with the Huron, but the Algonquin initially prevented them due to their role as middlemen in the trade.

A group of people from Scandinavia who explored and settled parts of North America around 1000 AD.

They established a settlement in Greenland in the 980s and later explored parts of North America, including Labrador, Newfoundland, and Baffin Island.

He was an Italian explorer who sailed for England in 1497 and landed on the coast of Newfoundland. He explored the Gulf of St. Lawrence, hoping to find a route to Asia.

A Portuguese explorer who landed in Newfoundland in 1500. He was commissioned by the Portuguese king to find a new ocean route to Asia. He kidnapped natives for slave trade.

A French explorer commissioned by King Francis I. He sailed along the Atlantic coast of North America in 1524, from South Carolina to Newfoundland, searching for the Northwest Passage.

A French explorer who made three voyages to Canada in search of the Northwest Passage and wealth. He explored the Gulf of St. Lawrence, traded with Indigenous people, and reached Hochelaga (present-day Montreal).

Cartier’s first voyage was in 1534. He entered the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where he traded with the Micmac people and met the Iroquoian-speaking people at Stadacona (Quebec City). His main objective was to find the Northwest Passage and precious metals. He kidnapped the sons of Chief Donnacona, a move that would have long-lasting consequences.

Cartier brought the Chief's sons who then helped him reach Stadacona in 1535. His main goal was to search for a Northwest Passage. Despite opposition from the locals, he ventured inland and reached Hochelaga. He heard stories of the

In 1541, Cartier led another voyage to Canada, attempting to bring back valuable resources and establish a French colony. He left Quebec with what he believed to be diamonds and gold, but they were later found to be worthless.

The journey along the St. Lawrence River led Cartier to Stadacona (Quebec City), and ultimately to Hochelaga (Montreal). These voyages marked the beginning of French exploration and colonization in North America.

The Recollects, a group of priests, arrived in Quebec in 1615 to convert the natives. However, their efforts weren't very successful, so they enlisted the help of the Jesuits in 1625.

The Jesuits in Quebec were well-educated and adapted to Native customs. They, along with the Recollects, attempted to educate native people, but the enrollment was low.

Established in 1639 by Marie de l'Incarnation, the Ursulines founded a school for both French and Native girls. Many Native students, however, left the school.

The Sillery Reserve was established in 1637 by the Jesuits for the Montagnais and Algonquin tribes near Quebec. Despite its initial promise, disease, alcohol, and Iroquois attacks eventually devastated the reserve.

Motivated by religious zeal, French mystics acquired rights to the island of Montreal in 1642. Led by Paul de Maisonneuve, they established Ville-Marie (Montreal), despite Iroquois threats.

The early settlers of Ville-Marie (Montreal) faced Iroquois attacks, but the colony survived. However, by 1857, the Sulpician order took over, emphasizing fur trade as the main driver of Montreal's economic growth.

The Iroquois' constant attacks on French settlements and interference with the fur trade severely hurt the Company of One Hundred Associates' finances. The company was replaced with a new organization, the Company of Habitants, which controlled the fur trade and could grant land.

The Company of Habitants was formed by businessmen in New France in 1645 to take over the fur trade and administer land grants. Despite this shift, the colony remained small.

Despite their efforts to attract colonists to New France, the persistent Iroquois attacks and the limited scope of land held by the Company of Habitants prevented the colony from growing significantly.

The French colonizers in New France faced many challenges, including Iroquois attacks, disease, alcohol, and limited resources. These factors significantly impacted their attempts to establish a thriving colony.

The French's involvement in the fur trade with Indigenous peoples in the 1600s had a significant influence on their relationship. Some scholars believe that Indigenous participation was driven by cultural and spiritual reasons, while others argue that it was primarily motivated by practical and economic considerations. These diverse perspectives highlight the complex and nuanced nature of the early French fur trade.

One perspective suggests that the Indigenous people of the 16th and 17th centuries traded with Europeans due to the deep spiritual meaning they attributed to the trade items themselves. This outlook highlights how the significance of trade goods went beyond their immediate practical use.

This school of thought emphasizes the practical and economic aspects of trade. It suggests that Indigenous nations participated in the fur trade primarily to meet their own economic needs and gain resources, rather than being motivated by cultural or religious factors.

George Hammell, a scholar who supports the relativist perspective, argues that Indigenous populations viewed early European traders as magical or spiritual figures. Their desire to acquire trade goods, according to Hammell, was fueled by a belief in their supernatural powers and potential benefits.

Historian Calvin Martin, also a relativist, proposes a unique perspective. He argues that many Indigenous groups participated in the fur trade as a way to combat the spread of European diseases. He posits that they sought to exterminate animals whose spirits they believed were responsible for these diseases.

Abraham Rotstein's thesis focuses on the concept of tribal security and alliances. He believes that Indigenous peoples traded with the Europeans to form military alliances. These alliances provided a sense of protection and security in the face of potential threats.

Champlain envisioned building a thriving and diversified colonial economy for New France with a focus on establishing large towns. This plan aimed to generate wealth to support the search for the Northwest Passage and provide financial resources to the French crown.

To strengthen the colony of New France, Cardinal Richelieu established the Company of One Hundred Associates in 1627. This French company was granted control over land and resources claimed by France in North America with the responsibility of bringing settlers, developing the economy, and converting Indigenous people to Catholicism.

Despite the ambitious plans of the Company of One Hundred Associates, misfortune struck when England declared war on France in 1628. English privateers seized a ship carrying 400 colonists to Quebec, and in 1629, the English captured the city itself. Champlain was forced to return to France, where he advocated for the return of the colony.

With the death of Champlain in 1635, the Jesuits emerged as influential leaders in New France. French officials believed that converting Indigenous people to Christianity would strengthen trade alliances and solidify their control over the territory.