The fur trade was an interesting time in our countrys history the collaboration of multiple culture groups, the wilds of the country contrasting against the wants of a longestablished society. The french fur trade of montreal had been taken over by british american traders who conducted the trade with the aid of french experience and skill. Here is a list of books that will make you more aware of your important fur trade. Much conniving went on between the french and english fur traders while france and england kept up the war for mastery in america. The british supplied the capital, and the french voyageurs supplied the skill of. The fur tradea history of the red river cart and the trails. French canadian voyageurs were the main labour force for the fur trade of new france. The revenant by michael punke, across the wide missouri by bernard devoto, fur, fortune, and empire. This activity includes a five minute animated movie that explains how the fur trade started, how made beaver tokens were used and the dynamic of a canadian trading post in in the 17th and 18th century. As an alternative, the kindle ebook is available now and can be read on any. Canada was built on the backs and arms of men who lived here, trapping and trading each other. Voyageurs travelers in french were men hired to work for the fur trade companies to transport trade goods throughout the vast territory to rendezvous posts.
Books on the early history of canada, first nations, the fur trade, and the canoe. The fur trade was a vital industry in the great lakes region long before michigan became a state. It allows students to see how our cultural identity and economic system were rooted in the fur trade. Natural heritage books, 2001 a history of fort william, in presentday thunder bay, canada and the role it played in the early 19th century fur trade.
Canadian historythe whiskey traders and the nwmp wikibooks. Welcome to fur trade stories, a unique presentation of primary and secondary resources found in the collections of canadas national history society, hbca archives of manitoba, the manitoba museum, parks canada and several first nations communities. In this post, canadian author roderick benns shares five reasons why using fiction to study the past works so well. Enter the world of indians and fur traders when the quest for beaver pelts was opening up the canadian frontier. This actionpacked account of the rise of the hudsons bay company tells the stories of the men and women involved. The rise of the fur trade in the colonial context is a story of both supply and demand. An introduction to canadian economic history, is an in depth look at the canadian fur trade, and an application of staples thesis where regional development is reliant on the characteristics of staple resources and their trade and business organizations. This lesson plan investigates the impact of the fur trade on canadas development as a nation. In the atlantic region, the absence of a dominant river system resulted in only a localized traffic in furs. Elle andrawarner provides a historical overview of the hudsons bay company and the people involved in canadas fur trade. In this book, extensively illustrated with visuals from some of canadas most.
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the gain and sale of animal fur before the colonization of the americas, russia was a major fur supplier of western europe and parts of asia. Trade in animal skins and pelts had gone on since antiquity, but reached its height in the wilderness of north america from the 17th to the early 19th cent. The indians traded furs for such goods as tools and weapons. It started because european men wanted hats made of beaver. For the most part, voyageurs were the crews hired to man the canoes that carried trade goods and supplies to trading locations where they were exchanged for furs, and rendezvous posts. Francois auguste chardon 17951848 a fur trader, chardon fought in the battle of new orleans, the final major battle of the war of 1812. The arrival of european traders forced many to choose sides. An illustrated historya book that reveals the aboriginal roots of the fur trade and the development of the major fur trading centres across canada. Reading the fur trade by nancy marguerite anderson. A commercial fur trade in north america grew out of the early contact between indians and european fisherman who were netting cod on the grand banks off newfoundland and on the bay of gaspe near quebec. Before the colonization of the americas, russia was a major fur supplier of western europe and parts of asia. Beginning with the founding of the hudsons bay company in 1670, the fur trade dominated the development of the canadian west. From the early days of french canadian voyageurs who travelled the waterways in birchbark canoes, trappers and traders followed their business from the straits of mackinac to the straits of detroit and beyond. The fur trade was one of the earliest and most important industries in north america.
The large american companies that would eventually develop the region, led by the american fur company, did not really become established until after the. An introduction to canadian economic history innis. In this particular region, canadian traders from the illinois territory spearheaded the development of the fur trade, but their activities never reached the scope of the british operations. Quebec and montreal received furs from the montagnais, algonquin, huron and ottawa. M lowers notion of a frenchbritish antithesis as the driving force of canadian history. Louis atop a prominent sandstone cliff destined to become known as starved rock. The north american fur trade was an industry and activity related to the acquisition, trade, exchange, and sale of animal furs in north america. Canadian traders among the mandan and hidatsa indians, 17381818 volume 68 american exploration and travel series wood, w. History of the fur trade montana trappers association. As small a change in style as an increase in brim diameter could send ripples through the whole fur trade.
Top american libraries canadian libraries universal library community texts project gutenberg biodiversity heritage library childrens library. The history of the fur trade and the early exploration of canada. Eric j dolin does a fine job recounting how fur trading soon became one of the staples of north americas economy, and how it then led to geopolitical maneuvering to exploit the resource for national benefit. Fur brokers, wholesalers and manufacturers have consistently been satisfied with the extraordinary selection of wild fur. The fur trade museum, in lachine, housed in a stone fur warehouse built in 1803 by north west company stockholder alexander gordon, is an excellent place to learn about montreals furtrade history. Since the establishment of a world fur market in the early modern period, furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued. The red sash is a picture book about the history of the fur.
At the time of its publication in 1930, the fur trade in canada challenged and inspired scholars, historians, and economists. Innis has long been regarded as one of canadas foremost historians, and in the fur trade in canada he presents several histories in one. There are innumerable studies of the history of the fur trade, many of them monographs on particular areas or particular traders. The redivision of the continent begun by the american revolution had been intensified by rivalry in the fur trade. Dec 17, 2010 that book tells of the fight for fur between the north west company, with its frenchcanadian roots, and the british hudsons bay co. Frenchcanadian trappers of the american plains and rockies. Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet.
Join pierre radisson, alexander mackenzie, simon fraser and other. Library of michigan the fur trade in michigans history. With canada in english hands, the troubles of the hudsons bay company might have been over. Historically the trade stimulated the exploration and colonization of siberia, northern north america, and the south shetland and south sandwich islands. This is a fun roleplay game introducing students to the beaver pelt trade in canada. It tells of the relationship between the first nations first nations, and the metis people of canada, and the french canadian voyageurs on a fur trading post in the 1800s. The fur struggle and the land struggle continued between the two nations until 1763, when france ceded canada to england. An illustrated history lorimer illustrated history. The fur trade had a tremendous effect on dakota and ojibwe cultural practices and influenced usnative economic and political relations in the 19th century, including treaty negotiations. Copies of the article the business that created a country in the how furs built canada issue of kayak. Fha has gained international recognition and respect for its stellar assortment of unique and luxurious products.
This book also details the fur trades true origin as a network of trading patterns among aboriginal peoples. Aboriginal peoples in canada and native americans in the united states of various regions traded among themselves in the precolumbian era. From its earliest days, the hbc battled everyone and everything just to survive. The fur trade set the tone for european exploration of north america and established the very. Both canada and usa began their histories with the fur trade. They travelled various rivers or came down the ottawa. The north american fur trade was a central part of the early history of contact in the new world north america. The fur trading industry played a major role in the development of the united states and canada for more than 300 years. The beginnings of the fur trade first peoples of canada. Suggested reading grand portage national monument u. The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Canadian traders among the mandan and hidatsa indians, 17381818 volume 68 american. Europeans participated in the trade from the time of their arrival in the new world, extending the trades.
All faced horrific consequences for these decisions. Its historical and economic impact lesson overview. The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the gain and sale of animal fur. Canadian fur traders and mountain men in search of beaver were the major explorers of north america and ultimately american western expansion. This just in smithsonian libraries fedlink us genealogy lincoln collection. They paddled the canoes, and carried the supplies and fur bales over the portages for the fur trading companies. In addition to the economic benefits of the fur trade, mountain men were a major factor in determining the boundaries of the united states, especially the pacific northwest. The north american fur trade was a central part of the early history of contact in the new world north america between europeanamericans and native americans in the united states and first nations in.
Careless, frontierism, metropolitanism and canadian history in carl berger ed. There is little in the book telling what the indigenous people and suppliers of the furs may. Other canadian history canadian life canadian natives current affairs geography. In the mid1800s, american fur traders began to introduce native peoples to liquor, which had a devastating effect on their way of life. Fha, located in north bay, ontario canada is the source of the finest wild fur for the international fur fashion industry.
Jan 30, 2014 the red sash is a picture book about the history of the fur trade in canada. Relations between aboriginal and europeaneuro canadian participants in the fur trade frequently included sexual andor marital partnerships. Then they returned to the illinois country to build a center of operations for what they hoped would become a furtrade empire. Trading between native peoples and the europeans became a large part of the history of canada and the exploration and settlement of the country. Francois auguste chardon 17951848 a fur trader, chardon fought in the battle of new. There are many ways to study history to your homeschool, but teaching with historical fiction offers some of the most effective lessons. Students will explore how the fur trade led to the development of the west. Pages in category canadian fur traders the following 174 pages are in this category, out of 174 total. Mistahimaskwa big bear 4th from left, a plains cree chief, trading fur at fort pitt, n. An engaging new look at this compelling era in canadian history. Long description painting by peter rindisbacher, ca.
Although detailed accounts of the furtrade era have appeared, until recently the rich social history has been ignored. Enter the world of indians and fur traderswhen the quest for beaver pelts was opening up the canadian frontier. From the beginning of the fur trade in the 1680s until the late 1870s, the voyageurs were the bluecollar workers of the montreal fur trade. Touissant charbonneau 17671843 a frenchcanadian explorer and trader, and a member of the lewis and clark expedition, best known as the husband of sacagawea. Fur trade and exploration posted by administrator february 26, 2009 jasper national park competition between the northwest company and the hudsons bay company increased as the h. From the early days of frenchcanadian voyageurs who travelled the waterways in birchbark canoes, trappers and traders followed their business from the straits of mackinac to the straits of detroit and beyond. By that time the canadian traders had set up posts across the continent first crossed in the north by sir alexander mackenzie and had neared the. At their height in the 1810s, they numbered as many as three thousand. The western fur trade in the early 19th century was longranging, defined by chains of forts and posts that covered thousands of kilometres and created many intersections for different peoples. The fur trade began in the 1500s as an exchange between indians and europeans.
When the french king made laws forbidding trading by anyone except the monopoly company, many young men broke the law, and moved out into the wilds. An illustrated history is an engaging new look at this compelling era in our history. That book tells of the fight for fur between the north west company, with its frenchcanadian roots, and the british hudsons bay co. But the french tapped a vastly greater potential via the st. List of books and articles about fur trade and trappers. The red sash is a picture book about the history of the. Fur trade and exploration canadian rockies vacations. The story of the canadian fur trade began more than 500 years ago. Anyone who enjoys historical adventure will relish these exciting stories of canadas oldest company. Fur, fortune, and empire illustrates this point as it traces the american fur trade from colonial times to the end of the nineteenth century.
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