Detailed Study Notes on the Beginnings of New France

The Spanish discovered wealth in the New World in the form of Aztec and Inca gold and silver.
The English's wealth came from tobacco plantations.
The French discovered wealth in furs, leading to the permanent establishment of a colony along the St. Lawrence River.
- The fur trade arose due to the high demand for fur in Europe, which presented a display of rank and wealth.
- The beaver was nearly extinct in northern Europe, making North America a focal point for merchants seeking furs through trade with First Nations.

In the late 16th century, hundreds of French traders flocked to Tadoussac, Quebec, to barter for pelts.
- Jacques Cartier's voyages laid the groundwork for French claims to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, although recognition depended on occupation.
The fur trade began as a by-product of the fishing industry in the Gulf and along the Atlantic coastline.
- French merchants sent ships out solely for fur trade in the 1580s.
- The French Crown sought to regulate the trade, granting monopolies to companies that would promote settlement and send Roman Catholic missionaries.
The First Nations typically welcomed the fur trade, gaining access to French trade goods and weapons.
- Rivalry between Aboriginal groups intensified as they competed for trade advantages.
- The French encountered complex First Nations politics and economics.
- Involvement in these rivalries occasionally forced the French to take sides.

While metal implements made life easier, reliance on European goods increased, altering traditional lifestyles.
- The Mi'kmaq's coastal lifestyle changed to focus on hunting inland, affecting food security.
- Changes in diet were noted as customary summer food stores shrank due to the focus on fur trapping.
Tadoussac became the primary French trading center by the mid-1580s, integrating into extensive Aboriginal trading networks.
- Approximately 20 vessels docked at Tadoussac during the summer, with about 1000 Aboriginals trading annually.
- Main trading groups included the Algonkian subgroups such as Odawa, Algonquin, and Innu, who brought the furs for processing in France.

By the 1590s, although the fur trade thrived, it did not lead to settlement as it required minimal manpower.
- Attempts to establish colonies were challenged by harsh climates and the costs associated with colonization.
Early settlers faced devastating conditions, exemplified by a disastrous winter in Tadoussac (1600–1601) where only 5 of 16 settlers survived.
François Gravé Du Pont and Samuel de Champlain became key figures in returning to establish a permanent presence in New France.

Champlain was born around 1575 in Brouage, France, and evolved into a captain and navigation expert.
- His experiences included army service and extensive sea voyages.
He encountered numerous Algonquian groups upon his arrival but found that the St. Lawrence Iroquois had vanished.
- Potential reasons for their disappearance included competition from other Aboriginal groups or disease introduced by early explorers.

In 1603, the Gravé expedition explored the St. Lawrence Valley, leading to encounters with various Aboriginal nations, including discussions about the “good Iroquois” (the Wendat).
The quest for a suitable colony spanned from 1604 to 1607, leading to a settlement at Port-Royal, Nova Scotia, which faced harsh winters.
- Nearly half of the crew succumbed to scurvy during this period, which led to de Monts deciding to abandon the settlement due to the lack of mineral resources and challenges enforcing the fur-trade monopoly.

In 1608, Champlain returned to establish a more strategically located trading and settlement post at Quebec.
- This location was previously inhabited by the St. Lawrence Iroquois.
- Champlain built a habitation, marking the heart of the first enduring French settlement in Canada.
The community grew but faced tremendous challenges, with high mortality rates during winters and reliance on Aboriginal allies for survival.
- Musket use by the French provided a psychological advantage, but the weaponry had limited practical efficacy against Indigenous warfare tactics.
- The French concept of land ownership conflicted with Aboriginal territorial rights, though initial relations were not hostile due to strategic partnerships.

Champlain negotiated an alliance with the Algonquians, participating in military campaigns against the Five Nations Iroquois.
- The success of these alliances depended heavily on French support and understanding of Aboriginal ways.
- Fir trade logistics changed as the focus shifted to providing more advanced resources and goods.

The Jesuits obtained control over mission activities beginning in the 1630s, with the goal of converting Aboriginal populations.
- Meanwhile, the Récollets were the first priests to attempt missionary work but struggled largely due to the resistance of the Indigenous peoples.
- They faced difficulties due to their approach of seeking to assimilate First Nations before converting them, contrasting with the Jesuits, who actively engaged with the culture to facilitate conversions.
Despite efforts, both groups encountered significant opposition to conversion efforts, reinforced by cultural and conceptual differences about spirituality and societal norms.
- The establishment of a Christian community among the Aboriginal populations ultimately led to more significant dependency on French agricultural practices, with limited success.

As the Jesuits initiated agricultural development among the Indigenous people, they faced continued setbacks from conflicts and disease.
Despite the challenges, the Jesuits became central in education efforts, founding the first institution of higher learning in New France at Quebec.
Collaboration amongst religious orders, including the Jesuits and Ursulines, aimed to integrate Aboriginal peoples with French societal qualities, but resistance persisted as Aboriginal groups valued their traditional ways of life.

The tensions between the French settlers and the Iroquois increased as conflict escalated over territory and resources.
By 1645, the emerging French population faced existential threats and aggressive Iroquois strategies, ultimately placing New France on the edge of survival.

Despite growing through alliances with Aboriginal groups, New France remained fragile, with a population barely reaching 1000 by 1649 amidst significant pressures from Indigenous warfare.