Iroquois, Huron, Jesuits, and New France PDF

Slides for the Iroquois, the Huron, the Jesuits, and New France under Royal government Five Nations League ​ Formed between 1475 and 1525 to end wars between Iroquoian nations. ​ Hurons’ refusal to join League contributed to Iroquois’ hatred of Hurons -​ The fur trade rivalr...

Slides for the Iroquois, the Huron, the Jesuits, and New France under Royal government Five Nations League ​ Formed between 1475 and 1525 to end wars between Iroquoian nations. ​ Hurons’ refusal to join League contributed to Iroquois’ hatred of Hurons -​ The fur trade rivalry between them only furthered their hatred Jesuits and Huron ​ French insisted Huron allow Jesuits to live among them, but by late 1630s many Hurons believed Jesuits had inflicted diseases that had killed half the Huron. -​ Established villages in the main huron communities -​ The jesuits were evil shamans that were responsible for the European disease that killed half the Huron. -​ Some Huron contemplated killing or banishing the priests -​ Majority would not agree on this plan -​ Such action would end their access to french guns ​ Consequently, some Huron wanted to kill or banish Jesuits, but majority resisted, knowing it would end access to French guns, which they needed to defend themselves. Why Jesuits some success in 1840s? ​ Epidemics ended, alleviating suspicions about priests. -​ Several reasons for the missionary -​ End of the epidemics -​ Eliminated the suspicions that the priests caused the epidemics ​ Economic and military incentives to convert. -​ French officials gave Christian Huron better prices for their furs -​ Supplied them with more guns ​ Catholicism’s ritual and messages had parallels to Huron religion attractive. -​ Belief in the afterlife and in the power of prayer. ​ Jesuits’ courage during Iroquois attacks impressed Huron. -​ Became increasingly menacing Iroquois attacks (1640s) created Huron factions : 1.​ Pro-French party (many Christian; all wanted maintain relations with French) 2.​ Traditionalists (resented French cultural influence and sought alliance with Iroquois) -​ Tried to form an alliance with one of the 5 nations (the onondaga) Huronia destroyed (1649) ​ After all-out Iroquois attacks, Huron forced to flee their homeland. ​ Many died from the attacks or starvation; some absorbed into Iroquois tribes and tribes of Huron allies; a few resettled near Quebec. Why Iroquois annihilate Huronia?  Longstanding animosities between Five Nations and Huron a factor. -​ Two confederacies have been fighting before first contact with Europeans -​ Backdrop to the attacks Neo-liberal scholars (emphasize economic motives) say main reason for the attacks was that the Iroquois wanted to improve position in fur trade. Allen Trelease (neo-liberal) ​ Aim of Iroquois to secure new fur-hunting territory from Huron. ​ Critique: Huron territory had been hunted out. George Hunt and Bruce Trigger (neo-liberals) ​ Iroquois’ primary goal: to steal furs from Huron and Algonquian fur brigades and force Huron to trade with them (rather than with the french); when Huron refused, Iroquois destroyed them. -​ Only when the Huron refused to cooperate, the iroquois then destroyed them and their allies -​ Not necessarily a convincing argument -​ Problem with what happened to the furs ​ W.J. Eccles’ critique: Of 147 recorded raids after 1626, Iroquois only seized furs seven times. -​ Other times the furs were left to rot -​ Economic was not the key motive behind the attacks W.J. Eccles and Dale Miquelon (relativists -- emphasize culture/social objectives) ​ Attacking Iroquois sought tribal security: felt surrounded by enemies and believed destroying Huron would ensure own survival. -​ Create territorial buffer zones and assure their own survival. Daniel Richter (relativist) ​ Iroquois attacks were “mourning wars,” wars to take Huron captives and absorb them into Iroquois society to make up population losses. -​ Loses from diseases and death caused by the french. Why Iroquois able to destroy Huronia? ​ Some scholars argue religious tensions among Huron (from missionary activity) weakened ability to defend themselves, but Iroquois also destroyed Iroquoian nations Jesuits had barely contacted. -​ Religious division cause a weakening of the Huron to defend themselves. -​ No real evidence that religious division had much of an impact while on the battlefield -​ Petun, Erie, Neutral ← Iroguioian -​ had little contact with the jesuits and were also destroyed. ​ Iroquois had four times more guns (500) than the Huron (120); French had not given Hurons more guns because they: – ​ feared Huron would destroy the Iroquois, which would divert some of Hurons’ trade away from French. -​ Iroquois prevented french allies from trading with the English or the Dutch – ​ underestimated Iroquois’ strength. -​ Overestimated the strength of Huronia -​ Didn’t see the need to supply more guns Fall of Huronia – new opportunities for New France (1649) ​ Because Huron could no longer supply Algonquians and French with corn, French colonists now had market for agricultural products. -​ Stimulated farming and settlement -​ French fur trade also benefited -​ ​ Without Huron intermediaries, French had to go inland themselves – and found new (and richer) sources of fur. Bishop Laval (first bishop of new france) ​ Tried unsuccessfully to stop liquor trade with Indigenous peoples. -​ His campaign was opposed by the fur trade company and the governor who convinced authorities in france who convinced them that it would destroy the fur trade but also the colony. -​ Church was not successful in their the liquor trade Marguerite Bourgeoys ​ Began school in Montreal (1658) and founded teaching community. -​ 1671 - founded a teaching community that became Congregation de notre dame ​ Reduced illiteracy in colony. New France besieged ​ Frustrated they could not control northern fur trade, Iroquois turned their fury on St. Lawrence settlement; from 1650-3, 55 colonists captured or killed. -​ Truce with the iroquois started in 1653 -​ Tribulations resumed by 1658 -​ 70 frenchmen were killed with tomahawks Legend born ​ Responding to the attacks, in 1660 Adam Dollard des Ormeaux (25 years old) went with a small group to ambush nearby Iroquois. -​ Left montreal to ambush a small group of iroquois along the ottawa river. -​ North west of montreal, they met hundred of iroquois -​ Adam and his men held off the Iroquois for about a week before they were all killed. ​ Near Montreal, they met hundreds of Iroquois whom they held off for a week before being killed.  ​ French-Canadian nationalists would later laud Dollard for supposedly saving New France by preventing Iroquois attack on colony. -​ Other, more critical histories described him and his men and greedy marauders who just wanted to steal furs from the Iroquois -​ Despite the intentions, the Iroquois attacks became so serious that in 1661-2, the governor and bishop laval, signed to sail to france to plea for military assistance. -​ Pleas were heard - king sent an advance guard of 100 soldiers to the colony -​ 1665 - dispatched 1000 troops France protects its colony ​ Responding to pleas from New France, beginning 1662 king sent soldiers. ​ Consequently, in 1666 French launched offensive against Mohawk, which prompted Iroquois to sign peace treaty in 1667, but tensions remained, partly because Iroquois resented French presence in Illinois. -​ Tensions still remained -​ Iroquois resented the french presence in the area (currently Illinois) ​ Therefore, war resumed when Seneca attacked Fort St. Louis; French governor responded by burning villages in Seneca country. -​ Sent over 2000 french troops and native warriors, rasing villages and destroying crops ​ 1689: Iroquois retaliated by attacking Lachine (near Montreal), taking 90 prisoners. -​ More than 100 french colonists were killed Heroine born ​ 1692: Iroquois attack at a farm held off by 14-year-old Madeleine de Vercheres and her family’s tenants; she became symbol of French Canadians as resilient people. -​ Became a legendary heroine, -​ High water mark of Iroquois military success Iroquois begin losing war ​ French reinforced by more troops and had learned Native guerrilla warfare. -​ French reinforced by 1500 troops and having learned Indigenous guerilla war tactics, gained the upper hand on the Iroquois that were destroyed by war casualties and disease. ​ Iroquois decimated by casualties and disease and defections of Christians who had moved to missions around Montreal. -​ Especially mohawk, which moved into the christian missions around montreal. ​ Ojibwa moved into southern Ontario and forced Iroquois to retreat to territory south of Lake Ontario. -​ ​ Recognizing futility of further struggle, in 1701 Iroquois concluded peace treaty with French and their Native allies. -​ Promising to remain neutral in future colonial wars between England and France  -​ Thanks to this treaty, new france would never again be seriously threatened by an Indigenous group. New era ​ 1663: Louis XIV made New France into royal province, believing it could improve economy of France. -​ Thought he could play a key role in a mercantile market -​ Colonies helped European countries become wealthy -​ Provide raw material -​ Captive market for its manufactured goods. Plan for New France ​ Jean-Baptiste Colbert, minister of colonies, tried create triangular trade between France, New France, and West Indies. ​ For this to work, New France had to produce surpluses, which Colbert believed would happen if New France remained a “compact colony” – concentrated along St. Lawrence. -​ Attempts to stimulate colonial economy ​ French officials tried to encourage timber industry, mining, the manufacture of beer and footwear, and shipment of fish and farm products to the West Indies. -​ The wood from new france was overpriced in European markets -​ Jean Talon tried to stimulate mining and local manufacturing of beer, footwear, and other goods -​ Except for the brewery, it was unsuccessful -​ His attempt to ship fish and other products weren’t successful -​ They did not produce regular surpluses -​ Fish merchants in france preferred catching their own fish rather than buying them from the fishers of new france. ​ But these initiatives mostly failed because of colony’s resource deficiencies and distance from markets. -​ It was a lesson french officials were slow to learn -​ Despite large infusions of capital from the crown the project had little success -​ Trouble shipping the goods -​ State sponsored rope making enterprise closed -​ Ship building program closed -​ Not enough sufficient lumbar -​ st. Maurice Iron Works - royal government financial supported, then took over in 1741 because of cost overruns. -​ The failure to diversify the economy of new france ended colbarts dream of creating a compact, prosperous colony Seigneurial system ​ All land vested in king, but rights to soil granted to landlords (seigneurs). -​ Landlords Portioned land to individual farmers -​ 1627 - the company of one hundred associated gave land grants to nobles and religious orders in the colony ​ After New France became royal colony (1663), size of land grants (seigneuries) reduced, and uncleared land returned to Crown -- to prompt seigneurs to get their land into production. Obligations of seigneurs and censitaires (tenants) ​ Seigneur had to grant land to all farmer applicants and build a mill for them. ​ In exchange, seigneur received rent and one fourteenth of grain ground in his mill; he could also exact other payments. -​ Money, produce or labour - usually a combination -​ Received 1/14th of the grain in his mill -​ Could extract payments from cutting timber, fishing, and the use of common pasture. To build up colonial population, French government: ​ Sent engages (indentured servants), who worked for a farmer, merchant, or religious community for three years; then they could remain in the colony and receive land. -​ In exchange they worked for a farmer, merchant, or religious community for 3 years after which they can return to france or stay and receive land. Encouraged military men to settle by awarding them discharges if remained in colony. Sent 800 “filles du roi” (young women, some of them were orphans), who were married off to bachelors. -​ The policy was effective -​ Within weeks/months of their arrival, most of the women who were allowed to select their husbands were wed. Why so few people came to New France? Peasants in France were not forced off land (like in England). French inheritance rights gave all children a stake. -​ Youth in france did not have to leave and find their fortune elsewhere - were not left out of the will. King excluded Protestants from New France. -​ Kept out a minority that was migrating from new france that might have otherwise gone to canada Colony had bad image. -​ Cold, and inhospitable Marriages and births Before the 1660s there was a six-to-one ratio of men to white women, and the average age of first-time brides was 15. By 1700 women married at average age 22 ( about 3 years younger than in France), and men at 27.  Birth rate higher than in most societies, and families averaged five to six surviving children. -​ Compared to 4-5 in France Why early marriages and numerous births? Unlike in France, land plentiful and undeveloped; it was advantageous to have lots of children to help out. People in New France spared poverty that delayed marriages in France. French government paid bonuses for (colonial) families with many children in New France. Demographic reality High birth rates and lack of famine and plagues increased population of New France from 3,000 in 1663 to 70,000 a century later, but the English colonies to the south always had much larger population. This relatively small population of New France would make it militarily vulnerable and less valuable to French government, which would have to decide whether it was worth bargaining for in peace treaties. Administrative structure under Royal government (1663-) Governor general (top official): responsible for defence, relations with outside groups/nations. Trois Rivieres Intendant (second official): responsible for justice, finance, policing, construction of defence works. -​ Provisioning and paying of soldiers Sovereign Council: created minor laws and served as an appeal court. -​ Consisted of the governor general, the intendant, bishop, attorney general, and several colonial elites. -​ Kind of executive/cabinet -​ Main duties: create minor laws for the colony and serve as a court of appeal for the lower courts. -​ Council restricted itself to its judicial function and left its legislative function to the attendant. -​ Captain of Militia: drilled/led militia units and sometimes carried out intendant’s orders. -​ Publicised and sometimes carried out the intendants orders -​ Not payed - their position was still held with great prestige Assemblies: bodies occasionally called to get public input. -​ Allowed for Limited local input -​ Assembly of the people to hear their views on a particular issue. -​ This was not democracy! -​ Royal authorities were under no obligation to follow the decisions of the assembly -​ No prevision for the people to initiate an assembly Judicial system  ​ Three levels of court (bottom to top): seigneurial courts (local disputes), royal courts, Sovereign Council (final appeal court in colony). -​ Decisions from the royal courts could be appealed to the sovereign council ​ For serious crimes, accused sometimes tortured to get information. -​ ​ Punishments for convictions severe. -​ Fines -​ Flogging -​ Hanging -​ Because of the severe deterrents, the crime rate was quite low. Social system (top to bottom) -​ Based on french persistence ​ Nobles: received key government and military positions and most seigneurial grants; a few involved in trade. -​ Income from the seigneurial was rarely enough to live off of -​ Kept their estates mostly for prestige and prospects that their land may one day accumulate more income -​ Some nobles became involved in trade. -​ Women of the canadian nobility would manage the family seigneuries -​ Daughters would become nuns. -​ Nobleman would be dependant on government handouts -​ Social status still remained high. -​ Commonors aspired to join the ranks of the nobility Clergy: enjoyed legal privileges. -​ Exemption from military service, Merchants: Cultivated good relations with government to secure contracts; most hard working and frugal and invested in businesses. -​ Not many merchants became wealthy, but most were hard working -​ Spent their money on ostentatious living Tradesmen: small contractors. -​ Most were self-employed -​ Included: Stonemasons, tanners, tavern keepers, metal workers, wig makers -​ Only surgeons required licences Day labourers: did unskilled, often seasonal work. -​ Carpentry to unloading ships -​ Most had troubles making ends meet -​ Some were forced to rely on charity Regular soldiers: had almost no rights and paid almost nothing. -​ Could make money by working for private individuals when they were not needed for duty  -​ Little personal autonomy -​ Soldiers were typically lower class Slaves: some of African heritage; most were Native captives. -​ Brought in from the western interior -​ No plantation agriculture -​ Most slaves were domestic servants for the elite