Life in New France

Life in New France

Canadian History XI

Key Points in this Power I. Quebec and the fur trade (1608)

The Company of 100 Associates (Company of New France)

II. Louis XIV and the Creation of New France Government Military The Seigneurial System: Engagés and slaves Filles de Roi

III. Population growth

IV. Women in New France Gender roles Women and the Law Women Religious

Company of 100 Associates

Created in 1627 by Cardinal Richelieu Given control of fur trade In return had to populate New France

Cardinal Richelieu

Company of 100 Associates

Cancelled in 1663 by Louis XIV They had not fulfilled their part of the bargain Appointed Jean-Baptiste Colbert

Jean-Baptiste Colbert

Government of New France

Hierarchical and rigidly structured 2 most powerful people:

Governor Intendant

Third most powerful was the Bishop

Louis XIV/Colbert▼

Governor (Military)Intendant (Justice/Finances)

▼

Bishop of the Catholic Church▼

Military officers, merchants, church leaders, seigneurs ▼

Habitants (Filles de Roi) (96.5-97% of population)

▼

Engagés/Domestic Servants/Slaves

Catholic Church

Bishop appointed by King Church disproved of sin Rules of the Church often reflected in secular

law as well Church and state therefore linked

Military

An important institution Officers were part of New France elite Non-officers were not Military also hierarchical

Seigneurial System

A system of land distribution Seigneurs – noblemen – owned the land and

“rented” it to habitants Seigneurs had to:

be loyal to the King bring settlers to NF from France to settle and farm

this land called a seigneurie

Seigneurial System

Seigneurial System

Responsibilities of Seigneurs

Build roads Build a mill and an oven for making bread Held a court where he was responsible for

settling any disputes that might arise Habitants could not be evicted from their land

nor could they be prevented from selling their lands.

Habitants

The habitant owed his seigneur three or four days free labour each year– this obligation was called a corvée. This was considerably less than peasants in France owed their lords.

The habitant was responsible for keeping the section of road (built by the seigneur) which crossed his land in good condition.

The habitant gave one bag of flour for every 14 in payment for the use of the seigneur's mill

The habitant had to pay rent – in money, if it was available, but more often in the form of farm produce or fish or some material good

The habitant also paid a tithe for the upkeep of a church and its priest.

Engage

Not habitant or soldier… Poor unmarried young men Worked as servants – 3 year contracts Could not marry Could not conduct trade Could be beaten or killed Many left, but many stayed in New France

Slaves

New France had slaves 300 in Montreal Some Africans, but most were Natives Not like slavery of US south

Filles du Roi

Most in New France were men 1663-1673 King brings over women to marry

men 770 in total Most young (under 25), most orphans

Population Growth

1660s: 3,000 1680s: 10,000 1750s: 75,000

Reasons for Population Growth High fertility Low mortality Social conditions Longer life spans

Gender in New France

Society was patriarchal But habitant life sometimes blurred the

boundaries between men’s and women’s work

Gender roles more sharply defined for nobles

Women and Law

Women had some protections under French law

Religious Women

3.7 % of women in New France joined religious orders

Were not cloistered The Ursuline Nuns ran a hospital

Ursuline Nuns