Library of michigan the fur trade in michigans history. From the early days of frenchcanadian voyageurs who travelled the waterways in birchbark canoes, trappers and traders followed their business from the straits of mackinac to the straits of detroit and beyond. The heros of other history books come out looking quite different. First, historians have interpreted the fur trade as an object of imperial rivalry, first between england and france and later between britain and the united states, as these nations competed for possession of the north american continent. The fur trade was a vital industry in the great lakes region long before michigan became a state. Tomisons account of the smallpox epidemic of 1781 and 1782, just 20 years before jenner published his paper on vaccination, is the most detailed record of the first catastrophic epidemic known to have affected the native populations of the canadian plains.
These titles may be used by teachers to introduce topics and themes more in canadian history and by students carrying out research projects. The canadian pacific railway, hudsons bay company, lord selkirk, john a macdonald, laurier all fall under myerss scrutiny, and the facts he records about them. Background information fur trade, the canadian encyclopedia. The monographs collection, spanning three and a half centuries of canadian documentary history, holds rich primary materials exploring a wide range of subjects and disciplines. For the most part, voyageurs were the crews hired to man the canoes that carried trade goods and supplies to trading locations where they were exchanged for furs, and. Asked in canada, history of canada, importing and exporting. The british supplied the capital, and the french voyageurs supplied. It allows readers to dive into a period of history and experience it from someone living in that moment, getting a chance to understand their feelings of the world around them right then.
Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet. This guide will help you find material in vancouver public library on the fur trade in canada. Europeans participated in the trade from the time of their arrival in the new. Both furtrading companies are discussed, but there is a greater focus on the hudsons bay company. When europeans first settled in north america, they traded with native americans.
The fur trade in canada red lake regional heritage centre. Canadian traders among the mandan and hidatsa indians. Canadian traders among the mandan and hidatsa indians, 17381818 volume 68 american exploration and travel series wood, w. The epic history of the fur trade in america youtube. The canadian government offers resources for teachers on this topic, and libraries will also have books on canadas role in the war. By that time the canadian traders had set up posts across the continent. Discover librarianselected research resources on new france colonial canada from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. The role of the canadian fur trade was to allow the natives to. The teacher will lead a class discussion about the students experience during the game and then ask them what they think it must have been like to be a real fur trader. 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 north american fur trade was a central part of the early history of contact in the new world north america between europeanamericans and native americans in the united. Mistahimaskwa big bear 4th from left, a plains cree chief, trading fur at fort pitt, n.
Suggested reading grand portage national monument u. Library of western fur trade historical source documents diaries, narratives, and letters of the mountain men these documents are accounts of the rocky mountain fur trade during the first half of the 19th century. In the mid1800s, american fur traders began to introduce native peoples to liquor, which had a devastating effect on their way of life. The settlers then sold many of the furs back to europe. List of books and articles about new france colonial. The fur trade museum, in lachine, housed in a stone fur warehouse built in 1803 by north west company stockholder alexander gordon, is an excellent place to learn about montreals furtrade history. The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the gain and sale of animal fur before the colonization of the americas, russia was a major fur supplier of western europe and parts of asia. The beginnings of the fur trade first peoples of canada. Please note that this issue is only available in digital format.
The fur trade was a very important part of the canadian economy and from the 17th to 19th centuries attracted. 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. The fur trade was an interesting time in our countrys history the collaboration of multiple culture groups, the wilds of the country contrasting against the wants of a longestablished society. An account of the development of canadian industry. What was the role of the canadian fur trade answers. Then time will be given to complete the fur traders log books. Free audio book that you can download in mp3, ipod and itunes format for your portable audio player. Historians of the fur trade have shaped their material around three major themes. The french fur trade of montreal had been taken over by british american traders who conducted the trade with the aid of french experience and skill. Early history of canada canada, as we know it today, is a country born from the european fascination with exploration, imperialism, and colonization that began in the 15th century though some canadians can trace their roots back even further. With all respect to sam morningstar, whose answer is extremely well informed, and based more on statistics than myth, may i offer anecdotal evidence.
In addition to the economic benefits of the fur trade, mountain men were a major factor in determining the boundaries of the united states, especially the pacific northwest. Plus youll have access to free lesson plans and resources. This timeline spans from our countrys earliest inhabitants to the present. A fantastic way to learn about canadian history is through historical fiction. 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. At their height in the 1810s, they numbered as many as three thousand. Books on the american fur trade and mountain men arranged alphabetically by author. This activity includes a five minute animated movie that explains how the fur trade started, how made beaver tokens were used and the dynamic of a canadian trading post in in the 17th and 18th century. The revenant by michael punke, across the wide missouri by bernard devoto, fur, fortune, and empire. John jacob astor 17631848 astor, who formed the american fur company, was the head of the astor family dynasty and the first millionaire in the united states.
Choose one of story of canada by george brown, eleanor harman, and marsh jeanneret available online at or canada in north america 18001901 by george brown, eleanor harman, and marsh. The best quality of furs came from the north, the reason why, is. On canadas frontier sketches of history, sport, and. The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Fha has gained international recognition and respect for its stellar assortment of unique and luxurious products. List of books and articles about fur trade and trappers. Fur trade in canada, last edited november 01, 2019. Now, almost seventy years later, harold inniss fundamental reinterpretation of canadian history continues to exert a magnetic influence. Library of western fur trade historical source documents. This is a fun roleplay game introducing students to the beaver pelt trade in canada.
The first smallpox epidemic on the canadian plains. In this book, the fur trade is examined not simply as an economic activity but as a social and cultural complex that was to. Canadian fur traders and mountain men in search of beaver were the major explorers of north america and ultimately american western expansion. Canadian traders among the mandan and hidatsa indians, 17381818 volume 68 american exploration. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Fha, located in north bay, ontario canada is the source of the finest wild fur for the international fur fashion industry. The fur trade was a booming business in north america from the 1500s through the 1800s.
Fur trade essay topics fur trade essayswhen the europeans came to america, there were furbearings animals everywhere. This database of canadian historical fiction and nonfiction books is brought to you by the canadian childrens book centre with historica canada, and funded by the government of canada. Discover librarianselected research resources on fur trade and trappers from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. The north american fur trade was an industry and activity related to the acquisition, trade, exchange, and sale of animal furs in north america. Canada was built on the backs and arms of men who lived here, trapping and trading each other. The native americans often gave the settlers animal furs in exchange for weapons, metal goods, and other supplies. Beginning with the founding of the hudsons bay company in 1670, the fur trade dominated the development of the canadian west.
To order any of these books please use your mouse button to. On canadas frontier sketches of history, sport, and adventure and of the indians, missionaries, furtraders, and newer settlers of western canada by julian ralph. At the time of its publication in 1930, the fur trade in canada challenged and inspired scholars, historians, and economists. The fur tradea history of the red river cart and the trails they travelled on throughout western canada. Canadian traders among the mandan and hidatsa indians, 17381818 american exploration and travel series. Trading between native peoples and the europeans became a large part of the history of canada and the exploration and settlement of the country. From the beginning of the fur trade in the 1680s until the late 1870s, the voyageurs were the bluecollar workers of the montreal fur trade. Innis has long been regarded as one of canadas foremost historians, and in the fur trade in canada he presents several histories in. Aboriginal peoples in canada and native americans in the united states of various regions traded among themselves in the precolumbian era. This edition of kayak shares some amazing stories and examples of how the fur trade built and shaped this country. Natural heritage books, 2001 a history of fort william, in presentday thunder bay, canada and the role it played in the early 19th century fur trade. There are innumerable studies of the history of the fur trade, many of them.
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