French Fur Trade

The French Fur Trade:

How Did the Fur Trade Give French Claims to the New
World?

By: Kiera Lehman

Table of Contents:
Page 1-​ Table of Contents
Page 2-​ What was the Fur Trade?
Page 3-​ The Furs
Page 4-​ Explorers Who Found Canada and
Canada’s Settlements
Page 5-​ Canada and the Fur Trade
Page 6-​ The Trade War
Page 7-​ Map of the New World and Canada
Page 8-​Dictionary

1

The Fur Trade

In the early 1500s, the English and French were claiming territory
in the new world. Among the settlers who journeyed to the New
World were French fisherman. They were the first to begin f​ ur
trade​ with the New World.
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Since the Native Americans were unable to craft European goods
such as guns, metal cooking utensils, and cloth, they settled for
trading fur with the French. These French colonists fished along
the eastern coast of Canada. The American Indians would trade
furs for the European goods.
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This is Canada. The The Eastern Coast is where the French fishermen fished and began the trade.

2

The Furs

The popularity of furs lead to the popularity of the fur trade.
Beaver furs were waterproof and could be made into hats. The
beavers were nearly extinct in Europe, making the hats hard to
come by until the fur trade.
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The fur would be fashioned into many types of hats. This sleek,
fashionable, sensible fur was turned into hats all over Europe. The
French were not the only ones who coveted this hat. Though the
fur hat was popular for a long time, the silk hat took its place at the
height of fashion eventually.

3

Explorers Who Found Canada and Canada’s
Settlements

J​ acques Cartier was the first French Explorer to find Canada. His

first travel was in 1534, where he established the French claim to
that area, which was Canada. In 1608, the French established
Quebec, and Samuel de Champlain, known as the ‘Father of New
France’ made healthy relationships with the Huron Indians. As the
French began to explore Canada, M​ issionaries​ attempted to
convert American Indians to their religion, Christianity.
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4

Canada and the Fur Trade

While the English slowly gained power over what would soon be
called the United States of America, the French seized control of
the cold north, Canada. The fur was what drew in the French.
Though the United States may have been rich in other areas,
Canada held great prospect of fur trade and fishing. In 1608,
Samuel de Champlain​ founded the city of Quebec and the colony
of New France. These settlements were located in Canada. The
French then traded with the American Indians who spoke
Algonkian​ and lived near the Great Lakes regions and the St.
Lawrence. They also traded with the ​Iroquoian-​ speaking American
Indians of Lake Huron.
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The Early fur traders mapped out areas of Canada. The Company
of New France was created by the King of France and gave the
trade m​ onopoly.​

5

The Trade War

The trade of beaver fur was a sturdy source of income. The
English soon realized that it would be beneficial to join in on this
new trade. Some journeyed to find beavers very far- too far, in
fact. They soon began to cross French borders, trespassing to find
beavers. Soon, war was declared between the French and the
Indians. This was known as the French and Indian war. It lasted
from 1756 to 1763. This was was also known as the Seven Year’s
War. This war was not what it may sound like. The implication of
the title is that the French and Indians were the warring groups,
however, the French and Indians were a​ llies​ against the English.
The English did ally with some Indian tribes, but the French had
greater ties to the American Indian community.
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After the war, the English acquired Canada. The French were
forced to find land elsewhere. This was in 1763, after the war was
over.

6

The New World and Canada

7​

Dictionary
Algonkian-​ A Native American tribe from the
New World.

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Allies-​ Two groups that cooperate with each
other, they may join together in a time of war.

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Fur Trade-​ The trade of beaver fur between
settlers in the New World.

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Iroquoian-​ A Native American Tribe.

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Missionaries​- A person on a ‘mission’ to convert
others to Christianity.

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Monopoly-​ Possession of supply trade in a
service.

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Samuel de Champlain-​ A French explorer.

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