History of Quebec (1 / 6): The founding of New France

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History of Quebec (1 / 6): The founding of New France

Monday, January 23, 2012 9:50 |

Jean Dif |

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flag-of-quebec The history of Quebec in its infancy merges with that of New France. For understand the psychology of Quebec, it is necessary to refer constantly to this prestigious past that saw the French explorer give the kingdom a vast colonial empire that covered much of Canada and much of the United States. But neither the French nor the English were the first inhabitants of Quebec and a history of this area, three times as large as of France Can not ignore what happened before the arrival of the first European.

The history of Quebec Indian

It is generally agreed that the settlement of America was essentially by the Bering Strait, here more than 20,000 years to the Ice Age. There is archaeological evidence of the presence of a habitat of Paleolithic hunters in the St. Lawrence here 10,000 years. Several thousand years later, hunting, fishing and gathering gave way to embryos of agriculture. The tools to diversify. The stone cut and polished, was gradually replaced by copper. The presence of minerals from Pennsylvania and Labrador shows the existence of an important network of exchanges. The settlement extended to the Laurentians and pottery made its appearance here about 5000 years. The arrival of the Inuit, who replaced the Tunit now extinct, was later, they would reach the territory of Quebec a thousand years before Christ. Two stones found in the Eastern Townships, it was believed discover a Phoenician script. It is believed that the Irish monks, driven by the Vikings, could take refuge in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in the late 9th century. Around the year 1000 in the wake of Erik the Red settled in Iceland, who explored Newfoundland, the Vikings settled on the Canadian coast, leaving traces of their presence until about 1340. When the Europeans arrived, Indian tribes were already cultivating corn, squash, sunflowers and beans, although the beginning of agriculture was not very old. The Indian population was then about 30,000 people in the territory of Quebec today.

In the early 16th century during campaigns cod, French sailors, including Basque, frequented the vicinity of Newfoundland. They returned to France a few Indians. In 1520, a Portuguese colony came ephemeral in Cape Breton. In 1524, merchants and the King of France, Francis I, commanditèrent a Florentine explorer, Jean de Verrazane (or Verrazzano - 1485-1528), to find a passage through the west to the mysterious East. The France , Who had kept pace with other European countries in the race for discovery, intended to catch up. The expedition failed, Verrazzano returned empty-handed, after exploring the American coast of Florida in Newfoundland. But the movement was launched, and on maps of the time, appeared soon Sea France, off the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Cape Breton and Earth Britons south of the river.

The three voyages of Jacques Cartier

The three voyages of Jacques Cartier (1491-1557), held from 1534 to 1542, marking the first significant step in the history and formation New France. To During the first voyage, the navigator, native of Saint-Malo, explores the Gulf of St. Lawrence, always seeking the passage that would achieve the fabulous Cathay of Marco Polo. On July 24, 1534, he alighted in Gaspé where he planted a cross, it is unclear where, thus taking possession of the Gaspé coast on behalf of the King of France. He returned to France two of the son of the Iroquois chief of the place, Donnacona, who sees the Europeans arrive on its territory with apprehension.

During the second voyage (1535-1536), Jacques Cartier named a small bay where it is released, August 10, 1535, named after the saint of that day, St. Lawrence and up the river which will subsequently name. He discovered the island Coudres, settled in St. Croix harbor, near the Indian village of Stadacona, near where Quebec will rise later and continues to Hochelaga, an Indian village fortified fences located on an island where grows the wheat grown in India, as Quebecers continue to call corn. Jacques Cartier named the mountain where the Indian village Mont Royal, and it still bears that name and the city of Montreal now stands at his feet and on its slopes. The Malouin Gets acquainted with poison Petun, peace pipes of tobacco, he likes little. The journey then stumbles on the Lachine rapids and must turn back. In return, Jacques Cartier bypasses Newfoundland and proving that it is an island. He brings with him Donnacona in France, who died three years later without having seen his country are also some other Iroquois trip, intending to present them to Francis.

The King of France, attracted by the stories of the Indian chief, calls Jacques Cartier to undertake a third journey, in order to bring the gold, precious stones and spices, but also to establish a colony and spreading Catholicism. By occupying the lands discovered, Francis expressed his intention to dismiss the claims of Austria and Portugal throughout the New World. To this end, an expedition is mounted and must be led by a nobleman of France, Jean-François de Roque Roberval (1500-1560), a native of Carcassonne, a lieutenant-general New France. But , Such as shipping is delayed, Jacques Cartier, who probably does not taste not the role of second placed upon it, from the first in 1541. The crossing is difficult, a high is nonetheless built at the confluence of the St. Lawrence River and the Cap Rouge, Charlesbourg-Royal, in preparation for colonization. At the same time, the browser provides to the Indians what he believes to be gold and diamonds. In 1542, when he returned to France, he met Roberval at Newfoundland. It orders him to return to the St. Lawrence and the Breton refused and returned to his homeland where he will end up empty-handed, its cargo comprises only pyrite and quartz worthless!

In 1542, Roberval arrived at Holy Cross Harbour with three large ships and hundreds of settlers. The winter decimates the newcomers. In 1543, he explored the Saguenay River in search of the wonderful kingdom Donnacona and his son claimed to exist on its banks to Francis. It also hopes to discover a passage to the north-west to the sea around India. This exploration continues but vain Roberval gave his name to a city that now stands on the shores of Lac Saint-Jean. The explorer returned to France ruined, and colonization is temporarily abandoned. Roberval, however, went up the Ottawa River and its pilot, Jean Alphonse Fontenaud or Jean de Saintonge (1484-1549), demonstrated the existence of a navigable strait between Greenland and Labrador. The pilot will attempt to return to the scene still looking for a passage to the northeast. The Spanish send his vessel to the bottom, at an unspecified date, when he returned to La Rochelle.

Explored the lands not appearing conceal gold or diamond, it loses interest and allowed their approach to the fishermen, including the French (Basques, Bretons and Normans) until the skin trade attracts again lusts. The era of the Wars of Religion does not also promote the maritime adventures.

The foundation of New France by Samuel Champlain

From 1581, French traders begin to practice the fur trade in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Unlike fishing, this new activity presupposes the existence of counters, that is to say fixed establishments, and the idea of colonization comes to mind. In 1600, Pierre de Chauvin (1575-1603) opened a trading post at Tadoussac at the confluence of the Saguenay and St. Lawrence. In 1603, Samuel de Champlain (1567-1635), a native of Brouage, participates as a navigator, explorer and cartographer, a trip organized by another merchant, Francis Grave, he attends as the second. He went up the St. Lawrence to Three Rivers. A second journey leads him to the mouth of the Saguenay. He met the Montagnais chief Anadabijou, it welcomes the better browser than an Indian who returns from France said the benefit of King Henry IV, and his benevolence to the people of the red race. The peace pipe is smoked. This first agreement will affect the future of Indigenous Policy of France that is committed against the Iroquois, a powerful confederation of five tribes, whose organization later inspire the creation of the United States.

Champlain sailed up the river to the rapids and then to draw the card he must submit to the king. From 1604 to 1607, the browser will explore the American coast to Cape Cod (Massachusetts) during an expedition led by Pierre Du Gua de Mons, once again, François engraved as a pilot. Several institutions are created, including Port Royal, is the beginning of Acadia. But the trade privileges granted to Dugua de Mons had been revoked, the expedition returned to France leaving Port-Royal to the custody of the Indian chief Membertou friend. The France from this point to compete with the Dutch and English.

In 1598, the Troillus Mesgoüets or Troilus La Roche of Mesgouez (1536-1606), appointed Governor of Newfoundland by Henry III and Henry IV embarks forty beggars to deposit on the Isle of Sables, he called Bourbon Island, near Nova Scotia current. Almost all will die.

In 1608, Champlain left as lieutenant of Dugua de Mons, which remains in France, with twenty eight males, with the aim of creating a permanent establishment. He arrived at the foot of Cap Diamant and founded Quebec City, named after the Montagnais have given the place, that is to say "the river narrows." During the first winter, the small colony is decimated by scurvy and dysentery. Only eight men survived in addition to Champlain.

This reinforces its alliance with the Montagnais and Algonquins. Relations with them are all the easier they are in almost constant conflict with the Iroquois on the fur trade. In 1609, Champlain sailed up the Richelieu River and discovered the lake that now bears his name. No bad encounter having taken place, part of the troupe leaves the browser. It remains alone with two French and sixty Hurons. Then, as the future site of Fort Carillon, just south of Crown Point (State of New York), the expedition entered the contact of the Iroquois. The next day, two hundred warriors were on the warpath. Champlain killed one of their chiefs a musket-shot spreading terror among his enemies disband. This shot is the start of a long struggle between the French friends of the Hurons, Montagnais and Algonquins, the Iroquois allies of the English.

Champlain returned to France with the hope to revive the fur trade and attract merchants to the establishment of Quebec. Back in Canada, in 1610, he was wounded by an arrow in the ear and neck, in a new confrontation with the Iroquois, on the Richelieu River. The fur trade proving disastrous and Henry IV was assassinated, Champlain returned to France again and got married with an underage girl (age 12). He returned to Canada in 1611 to explore the surroundings of the island of Montreal, including the Prairie River, and named one of the islands of the river called St. Helena, in honor of his young wife. A clearance is undertaken in the area of Place Royale, in a place that serves as a gathering place for Indians, the site is protected against flooding by a stone wall. Champlain down the rapids in a birch bark canoe to establish his prestige on the Indians. He returned to France in 1611 to ensure the future of his company abandoned by the merchants.

In 1612, Louis XIII named the Count of Soissons, the future Prince of Conde, lieutenant-general in New France, Champlain, with the rank of lieutenant, will replace him in his absence, he will exercise the authority of the crown, will continue to seek a transition to China and exploit mines of precious metals that may come to light. In this context, since 1613, the first French navigator undertakes a journey to the Pays d'en Haut by the Ottawa River (Ottawa). But the information it obtains the Indians left doubtful and retraced his steps, having lost his astrolabe.

Chartered companies

In 1614, again in France, he founded Company merchants of Rouen and St. Malo and Company de Champlain, before returning to the New World in 1615, accompanied Récollets to evangelize the Indians: Denis Jamet (? -1625), Jean Dolbeau (1586-1652), Joseph Le Caron (1586-1632), Pacific Duplessis (1584 -1619). A house and a chapel were built, the first Mass was celebrated at River Prairie by Father Denis Jamet assisted by Father Joseph Le Caron. The same year, Champlain began a new journey to the Pays d'en Haut, to Lake Ontario. It then runs along the river Oneida. Between Lakes Oneida and Onondaga, he meets an Iroquois fort, into battle with the Hurons who accompany him and was again hit by two arrows, one of the injured knee. After three hours of fighting, he was forced to retreat. He took refuge in Huronia, to spend the winter. Lost in the forest, during a part of deer hunting, he wanders over three days, and is required for dead, before joining his fellow men.

In 1616, after improving the defenses of Quebec, he returned to France. The Prince of Conde was arrested, and Marshal Thémines replaced it with the title of viceroy. Champlain plead the cause of Canada to power: controlled territory is huge, it is crossed by the most beautiful rivers in the world, Indians are eager to convert. He suggested sending Récollets 15, 300 families of settlers and 300 soldiers. It assesses the potential output of the colony to more than 5 million pounds. The authorities are convinced and Champlain found a monopoly on the fur trade while continuing settlement is confirmed. In 1618, after submitting a plan to Louis XIII of evangelization of the Indians, Champlain set to return New France when new problems arise. The British obtained the freedom of trade and its associates challenging his authority.

In 1619, the Prince of Conde, out of jail, gives his viceroyalty to the Duke of Montmorency, admiral of France, the latter confirmed Champlain in his duties and the king ordered him to maintain New France in obedience. Champlain returned to America with his wife became major. It further strengthens the defenses of Quebec by building Fort Saint-Louis at the top of Cap Diamant. A conflict between his company to that of fur brothers Caen; the dispute is resolved by merging the two companies under the direction of Caen. Champlain influence the choice of the head of an Indian tribe and manages to establish an uneasy peace with the Iroquois. In 1624 he returned to France with his wife. Encouraged to continue, he goes back soon, but without his wife who has never used to living among the Indians.

In 1627 Richelieu expressed his interest in the colony by creating Company of New France Hundred or associated group of merchants and aristocrats which he belongs, and Champlain. This company is responsible for bringing 300 settlers each year. The system of chartered companies benefiting from the monopoly of the fur trade has come into being. The seigneurial system was introduced in New France. Champlain became the commander of the Cardinal in the colony.

But business spoils. In 1628, the British plundered the farm of Cap Tourmente. Champlain was ordered by British merchants, the Kirke, to deal with them. When he refused, they block Quebec. The food shortage and Champlain, forced to capitulate, September 14, 1629, was taken captive in London. The Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (1632) releases in 1633. Reinstated as commander in Quebec, in the absence of his superior, as previously, he returned to the colony that the English render with regret. The Jesuits succeeded the Recollects, and they will promote New France with the French rich and cultivated.

In 1634, Champlain is the ruins, fortifications and strengthens Laviolette charge to found a new position at Three Rivers, at the request of the chief Algonquin Capitanal. He plans to resume the offensive against the Iroquois who do not stand still. But in October 1635, he was stricken with paralysis and died December 25 following. In the course of that year, the Jesuits opened the College of Quebec. The settlement still has less than 200 inhabitants, but New France is based.

Read more: The expansion of New France and the Indian Wars