New France & 7 Years War

Question 1

New France: what is it? why does it matter?

Answer 1

• first European colony established in North America; at one point extending from Maritimes to prairies and down into what is now US
• Louis XIV responsible for its growth and demise (filles du roi and ceding territory to British)
• its establishment created eventual alliance between French and FN to reduce violence on fur trade frontier
• Led to a French empire in North America during the 1600s-1700s until the end of 7 years war

Question 2

Challenges facing New France’s population, and eventual solution

Answer 2

• British Gov. Could send as many people as it wanted to Canada, but French Gov. couldn’t do that, as it would make France’s borders harder to protect -> not enough French people to colonize New France
• France’s relationship with aboriginal people ensured its survival (got along with all FN people except Iroquois - British allies)
• Louis XIV also sent “filles du roi” to marry male settlers and expand population

Question 3

Development of New France

Answer 3

• started in NFLND
• Port-Royal (in NS, part of Acadia) became capital of Acadia
• Samuel de Champlain created trading post -> Quebec
• People began pushing westward, creating battles/raids btwn French and FN, though alliance happened eventually
• Hudson Bay, Acadia, and NFLND eventually ceded to Britain by Louis XIV in order to align to with Spain -> deportation of Acadiens
• 7 Years War Occured between France and Britain, causing eventual cede of New France to Britain

Question 4

seigneuralism

Answer 4

• Landholding system
• Gave land to landlords instead of corporate companies
• Seigneur it was granted to had to maintain a home and develop his estate, accumulating peasant labour along the way
• Most of seigneur’s income came from trade, military service, and government positions rather than rent from tenants

Question 5

Montreal Agreement

Answer 5

• Aboriginal peoples went to Montreal to negotiate peace among themselves and to renew their alliance with the French
• reduced violence on fur trade frontier

Question 6

Treaty of Utretch: what is it? why does it matter?

Answer 6

• treaty that ended the war of Spanish succession; signed in 1713
• had implications for colonies of North America
• As part of treaty Louis XIV gave up Hudson Bay, Acadia, and Newfoundland to Great Britain in order to try to secure the Spanish throne

Question 7

7 Years War: what is it? why does it matter?

Answer 7

• French and British fighting in Europe and the colonies
• raiding, casualties, etc.
• Fighting ended in 1763 when Treaty of Paris was signed -> English victory -> All of New France (other than St. Pierre & Miquelon) became British -> end of French empire in North America

Question 8

Deportation of the Acadians

Answer 8

• Following treaty of Ultretcht, French land was surrended to England, but Acadians were initially allowed to stay there
• Britain tried to assimilate Acadians, but were unsuccessful (refused allegiance to Britain)
• Acadians were then deported and their homes were burned; all their land and livestock became property of the crown
• In current-day terms, this would have been equivalent to a genocide/ethnic cleansing
• Descendants of Acadians live in Louisiana today (Cajuns), while others returned to New Brunswick later on

Question 9

Treaty of Paris: what is it? why does it matter?

Answer 9

• Signed in 1763, marked the end of the 7 Years War between Britain and France
• Confirmed all of New France was now British territory other than St. Pierre & Miquelon
• Marked the end of the French empire in continental North America

Question 10

why did British Empire dislike Acadians?

Answer 10

• They spoke French and were Roman Catholic (vs. British, who spoke English and were Protestant)
• French missionaries encourages Mi’kmaq to attack the British settlements
• Acadians represented a threat because of their diversity -> at the time, diversity was threatening

Question 11

Jacques Cartier’s influence on French colonization

Answer 11

• Jacques Cartier was first French explorer to visit Canada/Gulf of the St. Lawrence
• Visited 3 times, laid claim to land, but didn’t ask aboriginal people for permission
• On his last trip, he mistakenly brought back what he thought was gold, and became a laughing stock
• After Cartier’s mistake, France lost interest in colonizing America, until the 17th century when Acadia was created