|
A New France |
The Iroquois |
English Invasion |
Peace |
Seigneiurial System
| The Kings Girls |
Canadian Identity |
Society | Government |
The Church |
Champlain |
Frontenac |
Acadia |
The Fall The establishment of
the colony of New France began with the arrival of
French settlers. They built forts, houses, began to
exploit the surrounding area for resources that could be
sent back to Europe for trade and attempted to produce
enough. They were Europeans, born in France with all the
attitudes and characteristics of the French. The fur
trade became the dominate industry in the colony and
many if not most of the young men would disappear into
the woods during a good part of the year engaged in
collecting furs through trade of the native Indians.
They became known as the courier de bois or runners of
the woods.
As the settlers spent
time in New France and as the colony matured and began
to produce its own babies, a generation of young people
emerged with now real knowledge of France. By the 1660's
the King had taken over the administration of the colony
and settlement became a focal point of the development
of New France. They knew the
St Lawrence, the wilderness, the dangers of the
Iroquois. They grew up in a different world, a new world
which was partially French and partially North
American.
They created their own
songs, traditions, games, activities and way of
life unique to North America. The habitants began to see
New France as their homeland and allegiance to Europe
began to weaken. By the time of the British conquest in
1760-63, they had crafted the French Canadian culture
that could stand on its own without help from the mother
country and that unique individual culture has survived into
the 21st century. |
