For nearly 200 years, the north american fur trade would be a major business venture for europeans, americans and natives of both canada and. In fur, fortune, and empire, bestselling author eric jay dolin chronicles the rise and fall of the fur trade of old, when the rallying cry was get the furs while they last. 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. Hudsons bay company was formed on may 6, 1670, making it the oldest corporation in the world. Fort victoria shown here in 1847 started life as a fur trading post. The first attempts to raise mink in canada were recorded in the 1870s, by the patterson brothers, in richmond hill. All content from kiddle encyclopedia articles including the article images and facts can be freely used under attributionsharealike license, unless stated otherwise. The aristocracy of europe always was a reliable market for fur, a product that was viewed as functional, fashionable, and even regal depending on the specimen and the wearer. Before the colonization of the americas, russia was a major fur supplier of western europe and parts of asia.
We did this screencast for our social studies curriculm class at the university of alberta. Facts about the fur trade montana trappers association. An analysis of the fur trade in canada as one of the oldest businesses. Four hundred years following its start, the commercial fur trade continues to use a plentiful canadian resource in a sustainable and responsible manner and is an important contributor to canada s economy and ecology. An introduction to canadian economic history by innis h a and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
The indians traded furs for such goods as tools and weapons. A commercial fur trade in north america grew out of the early contact between indians. Furcanada provides bear skin rugs, fur rugs, wildlife mounts, skulls and arctic ivory. Facts about the fur trade life depends upon other living organisms.
The fur trade determined much of the canada us border. At the time of its publication in 1930, the fur trade in canada challenged and inspired scholars, historians, and economists. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. The general socialscientific implications of the fur trade are not considered in this volume, w. Innis has long been regarded as one of canadas foremost historians, and in the fur trade in canada he presents several histories in. History of the fur trade montana trappers association. Book on the american fur trade and mountain men for sale by towns end books. When europeans first settled in north america, they traded with native americans. Competition between the english company and montreal traders had been bloody since before the conquest. Beavers, sea otters, and buffalos were slaughtered, used for their precious pelts that were tailored.
The native americans often gave the settlers animal furs in exchange for weapons, metal goods, and other supplies. Its products were the object of intense competition among merchants on two continents in leipzig, new york, london, winnipeg, st louis, and. After buying supplies in albany that spring, henry returned to montreal and secured a furtrade pass from majorgeneral thomas gage. Trade in animal skins and pelts had gone on since antiquity, but reached its height in the wilderness of. Most descriptions of beaver hunting stress the fact that at least two beavers were left in a. There he, cadot, and other pedlars, including peter pond and joseph and thomas frobisher, challenged the hudsons bay company. However, at the height of fur trading, the natives hunted for individual profits, causing them to think of the concept of territorial ownership and division of hunting grounds. The russian fur traders from alaska established their largest settlement in california, fort ross, in 1812. The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Following the return of the expedition he became an.
Much of the fur is believed to have originated in canada, smuggled south by. A tragicomic tale of wanderlust and the fur trade, told by. For information about assessing rights, see the rights and restrictions information page. The history of the fur trade and the early exploration of canada. The fur trade in canada red lake regional heritage centre. Search the canadian encyclopedia fishing, furs and christianity. Throughout much of the nineteenth century the hudsons bay company had a virtual monopoly on the core area of the fur trade in canada. In this book, extensively illustrated with visuals from some of canadas most prominent museums and archives, historian michael payne explores the personalities and events that shaped this powerful business. The rise of the fur trade in the colonial context is a story of both supply and demand. Free educational resources for schools which include brochures, message cards, counter stands, buttons, door decals and tshirts. Collection, british columbia historical books collection. Download or order free educational resources for school to learn more about the canadian fur trade. It was given all the land whose rivers drained into hudson bay. The evolution of the fur trade and the lewis and clark expedition.
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. Canadas fur trade history reflects the countrys cultural mosaic at its best. The algonquianspeaking people became allies of the french, the. Now, almost seventy years later, harold inniss fundamental reinterpretation of canadian history continues to exert a magnetic influence. The skin of an animal with the fur, wool, or hair still on it. Being a brief introduction to the role of women in the fur trade, and some suggestions for female reenactors. French control and french profits 16631700 the main staple of the trade was still beaver pelts.
The fur trade in canada the following timeline gives an overview of the history of the fur trade in canada. Prior to the fur trade, the native peoples would only take what they needed. First nations, french, english, scots, jews, greeks and many others have worked together for hundreds of years to build this remarkable industry a dynamic tradition of competition and cooperation that is well worth remembering as we celebrate these important. Frances anne hopkins artfrances anne hopkins art 16. The fur trade set the tone for european exploration of north america and established the very foundation of canada.
Many male reenactors portray the dashing voyageurs and stolid bay men of the british and french fur trade. Historically the trade stimulated the exploration and colonization of siberia, northern north america, and the south shetland and south sandwich islands. The library of congress generally does not own rights to material in its collections and, therefore, cannot grant or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute the material. Explore the roles and relationships of the people involved in the fur trade and the seasonal nature of the work. Hudsons bay company history how canadas favorite store. The fur trade in canada and the north west companyan interactive site which. The fur trade was a booming business in north america from the 1500s through the 1800s. A valuable and revealing narrative of a young british army officer who took leave of his post in lower canada to take a five month hunting and exploring adventure with friends to the western plains of kansas. Political and social changes in the western nations were manifest in changing attitudes toward the europeans and eurocanadians. However, due to the fur trade, conservation diminished and surpluses of furs were present.
Fur trade news newspapers books scholar jstor june 2016 learn how and when to remove this template message. List of books and articles about fur trade and trappers. By the early 19th century, several companies established strings of fur trading posts and forts across north america. There he meets monique, a flying squirrel, and together they rouse a posse of disparate, furbearing animals, from wolves to chipmunks, to join their protest against the voyageurs trade in. The search for fur drove europes exploration and settlement of north america, and many of todays towns and cities began as fur trading posts. A great lakes fur trade coloring booka great lakes fur trade coloring book. 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. The animals were trapped and exchanged for goods in north america, and the pelts were transported to europe for processing and final sale.
Fortunately, henry had continued in the fur trade, and in 1775, eager to see some new country, he took four large and twelve small canoes into the territory northwest of lake superior. The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the gain and sale of animal fur. The fur trading industry played a major role in the development of the united states and canada for more than 300 years. Two canadian fur companies controlled the fur trade in canada and parts of the united states fur trade until the boundary was set at the 49th parallel in 1846. This timeline spans from our countrys earliest inhabitants to the present. The fur trade is part of canada s resourcebased economy and one of canada s oldest and most historically significant industries. Francis parkmans first book, the california and oregon trail 1849. The beginnings of the fur trade first peoples of canada. The problem of overexploitation is not helped by the fact that the efforts by the french to remove the. The canadian fur trade in the industrial age heritage. In fact the search for new sources of supply further west, including the region of hudson bay. At the time of its publication in 1930, the fur trade in canada challenged and. It is recognized that on the same area of land over a 100year time period. Free educational resources for school which could be order.
Four hundred years following its start, the commercial fur trade continues to utilize a plentiful sustainable canadian resource in a responsible manner and is an important contributor to the canadian economy and ecology. In the 1600s europeans formed powerful companies that would dominate the fur trade and create alliances with first nations group for over two centuries. Resources for schools about the canadian fur trade fur. Were the first to trade in furs but the british also traded furs. Both furtrading companies are discussed, but there is a greater focus on the hudsons bay company. An illustrated historya book that reveals the aboriginal roots of the fur trade and the development of the major fur trading centres across canada. Trappers would bring pelts to exchange for merchandise and, if they were owed any change, it was provided in the form of trade tokens that could be used for later purchases. Canada the character of french settlement britannica.
The fur trade was based on pelts destined either for the luxury clothing market or for the felting industries, of which hatting was the most important. In example connecting the fur trade to the metis nation in canada, in barton township, ontario, the terryberry trading post, later terryberry inn. The fur trade was one of the earliest and most important industries in north america. Harold innis on peter pond biography, cultural memory, and the continental fur trade. The history of the fur trade in america in the 19th century. The north american fur trade was an industry and activity related to the acquisition, trade, exchange, and sale of animal furs in north america.
An engaging new look at this compelling era in canadian history. Under the system, the state granted parcels of land to seigneurs, who were responsible for. Ideal for country home and log cabin decor, taxidermy, home, office and corporate or institutional use. The novel bristles with details from the world of 18thcentury fur trappers, such as what was needed to make a canoe birch bark, spruce root and pine pitch or insect repellent bear fat and. It is something in your environment that you can use to survive what is an endangered species. Hudsons bay company posts that supported the fur trade eventually developed an entirely separate currency in the form of fur trade tokens. The fur trade, the mountain men, and their indian adversaries are also featured prominently in important nonfiction works about the west from the 1840 and 1850s. List of fur trading post and forts in north america. The fur trade and western canadian society, 16701870.
Bear rugs, bear skin rugs, bear fur, polar bear fur, polar bear rugs, fur rugs, fur blankets, fur comforters, taxidermy for sale. In fact, beaver was so abundant that it came to be treated as a. Canadas fur trade a timeline fur institute of canada. In many parts, it reads as if innis compiled his notes and then forgot to organize them or make them readable. The settlers then sold many of the furs back to europe. Aboriginal peoples in canada and native americans in the united states of. Canoes used in tradecanoes used in trade kozlak, chet.
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