New France

Founding of New FranceAfter Cartier’s failure to fully create a colony in New France, Samuel de Champlain was sent to create a colony for France. Samuel de Champlain – born August 13, 1574, died December 25, 1635 (61). He was a navigator, explorer, soldier, and administrator. Founder of Quebec City, settler of New France and a hero to the French.

Port RoyalIn 1605, Champlain along with Sieur de Monts and about sixty settlers were sent to establish a small settlement in now-a-day Nova Scotia called Port Royal.The idea was that the French King would give Champlain and de Monts a monopoly on Fur Trading in return for creating a successful settlement in Nova Scotia. The settlement didn’t work all that well. Very little trading was successful as Nova Scotia was not attached to the mainland of Canada.

Port RoyalAs such, many of the settlers deserted the trading routes for farming. Farming and Fishing in Nova Scotia became a very prosperous line of work for the French Settlers. With the failure of the fur trade in Port Royal, de Monts and Champlain abandoned their businesses. The people that stayed would eventually form the colony of Acadia – the Acadians were a strong and proud French group that never left Nova Scotia.

Head WestChamplain, still convinced he could set up a successful trading post, businesses and ultimately a successful settlement decided to head west down the St. Lawrence river. He headed towards Stadacona that Cartier talked about in his travels. Champlain did not find it, and ended up in now-a-day Quebec City.He noticed the towering cliffs in the area, and the perfect location near the St. Lawrence making the area almost impregnable and a natural fort, he decided to set up a settlement here.

New Settlement in Quebec

Recall, the Iroquois were not a big fan of the French, so Champlain had to look elsewhere for trading partners and Native Canadian Friends. Champlain set up a post in Quebec City, and aligned himself with the Algonkians and Montagnais against the Iroquois. Champlain also aligned himself with the Huron’s from the west. They gave Champlain access to their territories to hunt, buy and sell fur. The other bonus of aligning with the Huron’s is that they are enemies of the Iroquois.

The Huron PeopleAt one point the Huron People were good friends with the Iroquois, but overtime they became enemies and thus the alliance with Champlain and the French was an easy transition. The Huron’s were excellent hunters and would constantly sell (or help the French hunt for) fur’s. The furs would be sold to Champlain and his settlement in Quebec, and Champlain would then use the Fur to sell back to France.

The Huron PeopleThe Huron territory was a fantastic territory as well because:

They were located just south of the Georgian Bay so fishing was phenomenalVegetation was great, i.e. lots of wood, meadows and fieldsThe sandy soil was perfect to plant corn, squash, pumpkins and beans.

Ultimately, the Huron People were excellent farmers as well. A lifestyle that fit easily into the hands of French Settlers.

The Huron PeopleIf hunting was sparse in the Huron Territory, the Huron people would take the surplus of crops, and go north to native tribes where farming was almost non-existent because of the Canadian shield. In fact they would constantly be trading with the Nipissing and Algonquin tribes who were eager to trade their furs for crops.

Trading with the NativesAs said earlier, Champlain would buy fur from the Natives and he would take it back to France or sell it to their settlement. But, Champlain would also go to the Algonkians and Montagnais for fur as well. Basically, Champlain had forged great relations with all the natives around Quebec and buy fur from them.With fur being a popular thing to have in Europe, Champlain would constantly go back to France and sell the Fur to European’s for much profit. He would return back to Quebec and the cycle continues. Champlain had created a monopoly on fur trading, a successful settlement, a successful business and worked cohesively with natives in the surrounding area.

Learn about your Friends

Champlain wanted to know more about the Huron’s and other native tribes that he would send out young men to explore the native cultures and even marry into the culture. These people were known as coureurs de bois, and they would come back and report to Champlain about what they learned about the native cultures. But Champlain was getting to big for his britches.

Time to Convert?Another thing that Champlain and the French started to do was to force upon their native friends Catholicism. One problem with Europeans coming to Canada was they brought with them many different diseases. Many natives would get sick, and one way to convince the native people to convert to Catholicism would be to promise treatment only if they become Roman Catholics.

Going downhillWith Champlain having a monopoly on the fur trade, the French Europeans integrating themselves into the Huron (and other tribe) cultures, bringing about diseases, trying to convert natives to Roman Catholics some Native Canadians were starting to miss-trust Champlain. The Algonkians and the Montagnais, beginning to fear how close the French were getting with the Huron's decided to switch teams and help the English attack Champlain in Quebec.

Going DownhillChamplain was captured and taken prisoner. With Champlain being captured, the Algonkians and Montagnais left leaving the English to destroy Champlain’s settlement. When Champlain was in his 60’s he set up a new post at a different place along the St. Lawrence river. It was five years later that he died on Christmas Day.