Starting a French Colony Samuel de Champlain French

Starting a French Colony

Samuel de Champlain • French explorer, and soldier best known for establishing and governing the settlements of New France and the city of Quebec. • 1604 Pierre Du Gua de Monts and Champlain were appointed by the French King Henry IV to set up trade posts and start a French colony in North America

King Henry IV of France and Pierre Du Gua de Monts

French Monopoly • King Henry IV gave de Monts a monopoly in the fur trade in return for establishing a French colony The right to carry on all business related to a certain goods or service - No other French businesses were allowed to trade furs with First Nations - Could charge whatever price he wanted

Champlain Built a habitation called Quebec in 1608 in the Stadacona area -towering cliffs provided a natural fort

Habitation of Quebec The community includes: -Warehouse -Storerooms -A building for munitions -A garden -A pigeon loft -Several residences -A smithy -A drawbridge surrounded by a moat

Creating Allies • Champlain needed a dependable source of furs and protection so he could make a profit • SO, Champlain allied with the Algonquin and Montagnais - They promised to trade only with the French - Threat of English establishing trade farther south - In turn, the French would help the Algonquin fight the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois)

Creating Alliances • This alliance between the French and the Algonquians destroyed any chance of friendly relations between the French and the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) • 1609 Champlain joined a raid against the Haudenosaunee - The arquebus (French firearm) helped to win several battles

Creating Better Allies • Champlain also allied with the Wendat Wanted to trade with them because: - gain access to furs from peoples living deep in the interior of the continent - Had lots of resources to trade - The Wendat would help them fight the Haudenosaunee

The Wendat (Huron) • Five First Nations with territories along the southern shore of what is now Georgian Bay in Lake Huron - Prosperous soil for farming - Lake full of fish - Great traders • Becomes enemies of the Haudenosaunee

Why Even Have fur Trade? • Hats made from beaver fur (castor gras d’hiver) were the fashion rage in Europe -North America was the best place to find them

Quebec Habitation in Trouble • Champlain’s business partners thought it was too expensive to expand the colony • Christian missionaries trying to convert First Nations hurt relations with Wendat and Algonquin • English attacked in 1629 - Algonquins refused to help the French - Champlain taken prisoner

Starting New • Louis XIII's chief minister, Cardinal de Richelieu, formed the Company of 100 Associates to rule New France - Champlain returned to Quebec as lieutenant Governor of the colony of New France

New France: Quebec