New France Roles and Responsibilities

People of New France

Meet the People, Learn the Structure

The King of France

King Louis XIV – (the 14th)

• Was in charge completely

• Established the Sovereign Council• Chose the

Governor and the Intendants

The Sovereign Council

• Governor• Intendant • Bishop of

Quebec

Governor :Louis de Buade• Represented the King• Controlled the Military• Looked after the defense of the colony

• Dealt with “external relations” (trade)

Intendant : Jean Talon

Chief Administrator of the Colony

$$$$Goal=make New France

less dependent on France

Wants to exploit New France

Bishop: Francois Laval

Represented the Catholic Church

Provided spiritual and moral guidance

Funded hospitals, orphanages and schools

Soldiers of New FranceCame to New France to

defend against Haudenosaunee and

British forces. Many became seigneurs

or habitantsMostly men

SeigneursThe owners, or

landlords, of the seigneuries or plot of land used for farming.

Seigneurs had to recruit

Habitants• Recruited by seigneurs• Given the task to clear

and farm the land• Had to pay the seigneurs miller to

grind flour• Ended up in lots of

debt

Filles du Roi“Daughters of the King”Orphaned or AbandonedSent to New France to be wives of soldiers or fur

tradersDid as much work to set up seigneuries as men

JesuitsCatholic missionariesLived among the First

Nations – most missionaries would not. Wrote reports, learned

the languages and documented First Nations peoples.

MerchantsBlacksmiths, shoemakers,

masons, bakers, butchers, etc… Traded furs for other products.

Fur TradersVoyageurs – Legal fur traders. Would travel between merchantsCoureurs des Bois –

“Runners of the Woods” independent, illegal fur

traders

Huron Women

Crucial to the fur tradeWould marry for trade or

treaty purposesTaught fur traders how to

survive, translator and peacemakers

Made important staples: boots, clothing, blankets,

etc..