French Colonies

Channing Shattuck

American Colonies 5 – Canada and Iroquoia

The French were looking into ways to increase trade and stabilize it in America for themselves.

Any cut off from trade would leave devastation to the natives. A cut off in trade would start a war between them.

The French needed the natives as the natives needed the French, so trade stayed modest.

American Colonies 5 – Canada and Iroquoia

Important materials of trade from the natives was fur, which was highly sought for in Europe.

Mariners existed for the whaling and fishing regions near the land.

Mariners would sometimes cause a nuisance in the trading business. They would capture natives and enslave them. However this did not stop the trade situation.

American Colonies 5 – Canada and Iroquoia

In order to keep trade relations, the French had to choose to side with certain tribes who were at war with eachother.

Because of firearms supplied by the French (though originally prohibited), the hostility grew violent and bloody between the tribes.

Iroquois worked to prevent the northern natives from trading with the Dutch in the south.

American Colonies 5 – Canada and Iroquoia

St. Lawrence Valley became Canada after being reclaimed by the French.

Catholics worked to convert natives into Jesuits.

Disease ended up wiping out much of the native population.

American Colonies 16 – French America

French worked alongside with the natives to fight against British expansion.

Much of the French expansion was weakly populated, so native allies became an important aspect.

Canadian colonies were relatively safe from attack due to their location and small populations, as well as the cohesion they had with the native populace.

American Colonies 16 – French America

Canada was actually run by a trading company and not the government.

The need for emigration was low until war broke out against the British.

The emigrants brought from France’s purpose was to fight as soldiers, so men were mainly sent.

American Colonies 16 – French America

Because of the lush and untouched landscape, emigrants to Canada lived with more abundance.

Governance in Canada was different than that of France, it was more centralized and militaristic.

For instance, it had a triarchy of a Military General, an Intendant, and a Bishop.

American Colonies 16 – French America

The native population became very dependent on trade with the French.

This in turn, lead to the French becoming more and more subject to the demands of their allies.

The entire expansion and trade project cost more than France profited.