The fur trade refers to the industry of trapping beavers to make felt hats in what is now Canada. The fur trade lasted for more than 250 years, from the early 1700s to the mid 1900s, and mainly involved the British, the French, and the aboriginal peoples native to Canada.
The fur trade began with the French colonizing Nouvelle-France, the land along the St. Lawrence River, in the early seventeenth century. Britain was also colonizing at this time, though they had claimed the islands around Nouvelle-France, or Atlantic Canada. Through colonization, both societies had formed strong alliances with the First Nations of their respective regions. Coming from Europe, the British and the French had absolutely no knowledge of North America and how they were supposed to survive on the rugged territory. The First Nations lent a hand, and taught the Europeans valuable lessons on how to hunt, forage, and fish, how to make tools, and how to build houses. As well, they taught about the weather patterns, how to make canoes and kayaks, and how to use them as speedy ways of transportation. In return, the British and French brought the First Nations some amenities of Europe. This included clothes, medicine, and even alcohol. These alliances were to soon form the foundation of the fur trade.
Back in Europe, there was a fashion trend blooming that everyone on the continent wanted to be a part of: the felt hat (see figure 1).
The fur trade began with the French colonizing Nouvelle-France, the land along the St. Lawrence River, in the early seventeenth century. Britain was also colonizing at this time, though they had claimed the islands around Nouvelle-France, or Atlantic Canada. Through colonization, both societies had formed strong alliances with the First Nations of their respective regions. Coming from Europe, the British and the French had absolutely no knowledge of North America and how they were supposed to survive on the rugged territory. The First Nations lent a hand, and taught the Europeans valuable lessons on how to hunt, forage, and fish, how to make tools, and how to build houses. As well, they taught about the weather patterns, how to make canoes and kayaks, and how to use them as speedy ways of transportation. In return, the British and French brought the First Nations some amenities of Europe. This included clothes, medicine, and even alcohol. These alliances were to soon form the foundation of the fur trade.
Back in Europe, there was a fashion trend blooming that everyone on the continent wanted to be a part of: the felt hat (see figure 1).
LFelt hats were made primarily from beaver pelts. The First Nations had been hunting beavers for their pelts and fashioning clothing and household items out of them for hundreds of years, but the Europeans had no clue where to begin. But they did know there was a huge demand for them in England and France and other European countries, so they enlisted the help of the First Nations to hunt the beavers, and then sent the pelts back home by the shiploads.
The fur trade grew quickly, both in the amount of furs being produced, as well as the land they were colonizing – spreading quickly across the Northwest. Competition also grew between Britain and France, because both wanted control of North America and its resources.
In 1654, two French men by the names of Médard Chouart Des Groseilliers and Pierre Esprit Radisson travelled deeper into Canada collecting a large sum of furs and forming bonds with many of the First Nations. They had plans to set up a trading post on Hudson Bay, and they hoped that the French king would sponsor them and help fund their endeavor. However, because they had been working as coureurs de bois, or runners of the woods, meaning they were trading without license. After being denied by their native country, the men went to the English king for help. After a series of successful voyages in 1668, England granted the men with a charter in 1670. This charter became known as the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), and it gave the men exclusive rights over all the land whose rivers drained into Hudson Bay.
This was the beginning of the fur trade and the monopolization of North America for fur trading. Many more companies would be formed after the Hudson's Bay Company, for example, the North West Company. Competitions grew and dwindled between these companies as they all fought for resources to provide for the European demands of felt clothing.
Another important offshoot of the fur trade was the birth of a new culture – the Métis. The Métis were formed by the uniting of male French fur trade partners and clerks with the First Nations women who would work with the companies to produce the pelts. This new culture strengthened the ties between the Europeans and the First Nations, as well as contributed knowledge and skills to the success of the fur trade.
So... Why is the fur trade historically significant?
The fur trade is historically significant because it was the first time that the Europeans had to rely on the First Nations for their knowledge of the land. It also put – the very new – North America on the map as a land of resources and success. The fur trade was also responsible for the cultivation of North America – because it provided an incentive for Europeans to explore deeper into the continent, which in turn led to more forts being built and more people. Lastly, the fur trade produced an entirely new culture – the Métis. The Métis strengthened bonds between the French and the First Nations, and formed a strong culture that is especially prominent here in Manitoba, so we are still able and very lucky to see their historical significance every day.
The fur trade grew quickly, both in the amount of furs being produced, as well as the land they were colonizing – spreading quickly across the Northwest. Competition also grew between Britain and France, because both wanted control of North America and its resources.
In 1654, two French men by the names of Médard Chouart Des Groseilliers and Pierre Esprit Radisson travelled deeper into Canada collecting a large sum of furs and forming bonds with many of the First Nations. They had plans to set up a trading post on Hudson Bay, and they hoped that the French king would sponsor them and help fund their endeavor. However, because they had been working as coureurs de bois, or runners of the woods, meaning they were trading without license. After being denied by their native country, the men went to the English king for help. After a series of successful voyages in 1668, England granted the men with a charter in 1670. This charter became known as the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), and it gave the men exclusive rights over all the land whose rivers drained into Hudson Bay.
This was the beginning of the fur trade and the monopolization of North America for fur trading. Many more companies would be formed after the Hudson's Bay Company, for example, the North West Company. Competitions grew and dwindled between these companies as they all fought for resources to provide for the European demands of felt clothing.
Another important offshoot of the fur trade was the birth of a new culture – the Métis. The Métis were formed by the uniting of male French fur trade partners and clerks with the First Nations women who would work with the companies to produce the pelts. This new culture strengthened the ties between the Europeans and the First Nations, as well as contributed knowledge and skills to the success of the fur trade.
So... Why is the fur trade historically significant?
The fur trade is historically significant because it was the first time that the Europeans had to rely on the First Nations for their knowledge of the land. It also put – the very new – North America on the map as a land of resources and success. The fur trade was also responsible for the cultivation of North America – because it provided an incentive for Europeans to explore deeper into the continent, which in turn led to more forts being built and more people. Lastly, the fur trade produced an entirely new culture – the Métis. The Métis strengthened bonds between the French and the First Nations, and formed a strong culture that is especially prominent here in Manitoba, so we are still able and very lucky to see their historical significance every day.