The Society of New France, and the Struggle for Empire

During the settlement of New France, the fur trade took the place of the government. Ile Sainte-Criox was first settled in 1604 by the french but was short lived as the group suffered a severe winter, and scurvy. A year later, the settlement was moved across the bay to Port Royal. New France needed to be defended as they were in conflict against the English who were allies with the Iroquois, who killed about 10% of the French population. in 1701 the Iroquois ordered a peace covenant with the French. This peace treaty allowed for the French to recognize the independence of the Iroquois, and in return the Iroquois promised to remain neutral between the French and English.

In 1713, the Treaty of Utrecht settled the war of Spanish succession which lasted for 11 years. This treaty resulted in France agreeing to abandon Hudson’s Bay, Acadia, and Newfoundland to the British; however they kept their fishing rights in the area, and kept two islands which protected the entrance of the gulf to St. Lawrence.

Mercantilism was the economic system of New France, which meant that the colony was only seen as successful if they were providing goods for France. This system was favoured by Louis XIV, and Jean-Baptiste. This system was argued to have slown economic progression because it discouraged the colony to grow in its own initiatives.

Between 1663 and 1673 the Filles du Roi arrived to New France. This was an initiative to colonize New France and domesticate society. These young girls were shipped to New France with the motivation of being married off to the settlers of the New World, and reproduce to expand colonization. A large portion of the men who were marrying the Filles du Roi were the Coureurs des Bois, who were free-runners of the area looking for trading opportunities.

The society of New France was under the Catholic religion, and under the seigneurial system. The class system consisted of upper (Military officers, church officials), middle (merchants, entrepreneurs), and lower (majority of population, rural people) class.

The Seven Years War was between France and Britain declared in 1763. This resulted in France falling to the British. This war proved that colonies could become independent, which lead to the American Revolution.