Emergence of New France

Go over page 56-59

Late 15
th
century
Europeans Developed a love for Asian
products (Spices, silks, jewels of the East)
Route-Red Sea and across the Mediterranean to
Venice or the Black Sea past Constantinople,
and through the Mediterranean to Genoa
In 1453, the Turks Captured Constantinople, the
eastern Mediterranean was a dangerous place


Start of westward voyaged
Reasons for Late 15
th
century explorations:
1) They needed another way to reach China and
India due to avoid the Turks
2) To avoid using the Genoese, Venetian
merchants
3) Exploring new territories in search of wealth



States hired explorers
Columbus (Spain), first explorer to reach the
Caribbean and South America-vast colonies
created by Spain in the South
The Portuguese followed colonizing Brazil

Colonies
Other European countries followed finding
colonies or settlements colonies
Colony: A territory subjected to the
dominance of a foreign state, which exploit it.
Colony depended on the mother country
Mother country (MC): A state that possesses
colonies or territories outside its own territory


Mercantilism economic doctrine

A state power was measured in its wealth
(gold)
Exports from MC encouraged-
Import (manufactured goods) to the MC
limited
Colonies provided MC lots of natural
resources and the final products sold to
colonies
This helps the MC become wealthier


The first French people in North America

France wanted colonies so they could
compete with Spain and Portugal
France had 4 aims with its colonial project
1) Colonial empire to compete with European
rivals
2) Route to Asia
3) Finding precious metals (gold)
4) Converting the Aboriginals to Christianity


Jacques Cartier Voyages
Cartier was given the job to fulfil the 4 aims
1534- He sailed west and landed in Gaspe
He planted a cross to mark his landing and
take possession of Canada for the King of
France
Aboriginal told him he could find a way to
Asia but no gold

1535-second voyage to Canada

He went down the St. Lawrence
Reached Hochelega (Mtl) and Lachine)
Spent winter in QC
25 crew members died from scurvy (disease caused by
a lack of vitamin C, which leads to rotten gums)
The Aboriginals gave Cartier and men a tea which had
Vitamin C. The tea cured the Scurvy that was killing
men.
Conflict developed with Aboriginals
Had to return to France

1541-Cartier third voyage
2 aims of trip: convert Aboriginals and create a
settlement colony
Roberval was supposed to administer the
colony and Cartier was captain of the ships
Cartier believed that he had found gold and
diamond nearby

He left for France with his precious cargo
and the colonists as tensions were high with
the Aboriginals
Iron pyrite and quartz were what he had
found.
Roberval followed Cartiers route up the St.
Lawrence but his settlements failed

Even though the colonial project was a failure,
Europeans still travelled to North America to fish
and trade off the coast of Newfoundland and in
the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Basque fishers even
spent summers in the St. Lawrence Valley.
Late 16
th
century, merchants were attracted by
fur brought back by fishers. Merchants organized
expeditions but no permanent colony was
created

Principle of Mercantilism

Fur became a very important fashion item
made into hats especially
Cod became another economic incentive
See document page 65
Fur was a way to accumulate wealth

Growth of fur
Fur hats made in France could be sold to other
countries
New Frances fur was cheap
Monopolies and chartered companies were
granted to exploit the fur trade in New France
(NF)

These companies in return had to bring over
colonists to settle the colony
Monopoly: The exclusive exploitation of a
resource by one individual or a company
Chartered companies: Associated merchants
who financed trade voyages to Asia and NA