History of Quebec and Canada/Study Guide/Topic 1: Concepts of Colonization

What were the two opposing views or concepts on the colonization of New France?

The two opposing views centered around whether New France should develop as a colony based on settlement or as a colony based on the exploitation of the fur trade.

Characteristics of a colony based on settlement

Its purpose was to create a society in New France similar to that in France through settlement. To have such a colony it would need to send to New France farmers, priests, soldiers, administrators, women, and artisans. The colonizers wanted a diversified economy not an economy based solely on the exploitation of the fur trade. This concept of colonization had the support of the King, religious orders and colonizers.

Characteristics of a colony based on the fur trade

  Its purpose was to exploit the fur trade for the benefit of merchants and fur trading monopoly companies such as the Company of 100 Associates. Basically, they wanted New France to be  a fur-trading outpost. 

To have such a colony it would need mainly men meaning merchants, coureurs de bois, independent traders and company agents. Settlers were not welcome as they were expensive to bring over and they could act as competitors in the fur trade. The fur traders only wanted to develop and exploit the fur trade since it did not require a large initial investment and it was very profitable. This type of colony had the support of the fur trading companies, fur traders and merchants.

Throughout most of New France's history, despite some attempts at settlement, the colony of New France was based on the exploitation of the fur trade. A major factor behind this was the belief in the economic theory of mercantilism. Do the following questions on concepts of colonization. 1. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE

   ESTABLISHMENT OF A TRADING COLONY ? 
    1. The costs of transporting and settling the population were paid by the King. 
    2. France wanted to recreate its way of life in New France. 
    3. France invested little, thus allowing the chartered companies to operate freely. 
    4. The high density of the population made it easy to defend the territory. 
    5. The exploitation of a single resource was the driving force behind the development 
        of the colony. 

   A) 1 and 2                                                        C) 3 and 4 
   B) 2 and 5                                                        D) 3 and 5 
 ANSWER: A B C D 

2. The following words or phrases can be associated with either a trading colony or a

   colony of settlement. 

   WHICH THREE COULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH A COLONY BASED ON  
   SETTLEMENT? 

    1.    Indian alliances                                      4.    exploitation of fur trade 
    2.    chartered companies                              5.    farmers, priests, and soldiers 
    3.    villages and towns                                  6.    diversified economy 

   A)    1,    2,    3                                                       C)    2,    4,    6 
   B)    1,    4,    5                                                       D)    3,    5,    6 
 ANSWER: A B C D 

3. In 17th century France, there were opposing views on colonization in New France. Some argued that the colony should be kept as a source of raw materials, while others believed it ought to be settled by people who would build farms, villages, and towns.

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING PERSONS OR GROUPS SUPPORTED THE SETTLEMENT OF THE COLONY?

1. the king/colonizers 4. merchants/traders 2. the coureurs de bois 5. the chartered companies 3. the religious orders/missionaries A) 1 and 4 C) 2 and 5 B) 1 and 3 D) 3 and 5

 ANSWER: A B C D 

Go On To Topic 2: Mercantilism