Search our fur trade post maps to find the location of a hudsons bay company fur trade post. The fur trade was a very important part of the canadian economy and from the 17th to 19th centuries attracted european mechants and settlers to canada. The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. As the century proceeded the extraordinary quality of the farmraised mink and fox furs firmly established canada as an innovator in what was to become a highly specialized and extremely competitive international agricultural activity. Canadas fur trade a timeline fur institute of canada. The fur trade began in the 1500s as an exchange between indians and europeans. Throughout this timeline you will find bolded text. The following timeline gives an overview of the history. By the mid nineteenth century, the fur trade was slowing down. Quality beaver pelts set the value of what things were worth and it seems that most trades were based on this value. Fur trade changing times in the nwt grade four social studies 1 student activity book for fur trade cards student. During the fur trade period in what is now british columbia the strength of external commercial influence was not sufficient to transform precapitalist modes of production, because of the resistance offered by domestic economic activity and the internal solidarity of the precapitalist mode of production.
The fur trade was one of the earliest and most important industries in north america. Alberta history timeline 1600s 1700s 1679 hudson bay company given exclusive rights in ruperts land, including most of alberta 1754 anthony henday, first european arrives 1778 peter pond expedition set up trading posts 1788 permanent trading posts established in peace river district 1792 fort george built by north west company 1795 fort edmonton built. A history of the fur trade is complementary to a history of the recent industrial. Chinook jargon develops as a pidgin language of trade for the pacific northwest, and spreads quickly up the west coast from what is now known as oregon to alaska. In example connecting the fur trade to the metis nation in canada, in barton township, ontario, the terryberry trading post, later terryberry inn, was built on mohawk road, on the niagara escarpment. Worksheets are teaching resource kit david thompson fur trade and, fur trade teacher guide, the fur trade contact and commerce between indians and, european exploration and colonization of america country, colonizing new france c, hbc and the fur trade, growth of new york during early. Fur trade, landbased knowbc the leading source of bc. In 1733 an expensive program was carried out in strengthening prince of wales fort. See this teachers guide aimed at using the textbook far west. British columbia timeline from colony to confederation. The greatwest life school programme page 6 a few facts about the fur trade era 17th to 19th century the fur trade in the 17th and 18th centuries, beaver fur was very popular with the men and the women of europe. The fur trade was the original basis for the growth, foundation, and success of canadas beginning. The hudsons bay co charter to what is now mainland british columbia was revoked.
History of the furtrade in canada this text was written by harold a. Hudsons bay company archives hbc fur trade post map. For nearly 250 years, from the early 17th to the mid19th centuries, the fur trade was a vast commercial enterprise across the land we now call canada. The handwritten 15by12 inch document is a window into the fur trade on the west coast during the first half of the 19th century, when british north america extended to the columbia river. Jstor june 2016 learn how and when to remove this template message. British columbia is the westernmost province of canada. Displaying all worksheets related to colonial fur trade. Wealthy europeans were eager to buy hats made of beaver fur and the supply here was plentiful. Canadians pioneered the art of fur farming on prince edward island in the late 1800s. The okanagan people participated in the fur trade largely in the sale and trading of horses. Students will explore how the fur trade led to the development of the west. The land was home to diverse indigenous nations and a handful of newcomers, mostly hudsons bay company employees still working in the fur trade, dabbling in agriculture, or exporting salmon, cranberries, or raw materials such as coal and cedar. Canadas fur trade a timeline fur institute of canada fur.
Jul 23, 20 the fur trade was a vast commercial enterprise across the wild, forested expanse of what is now canada. This lesson plan investigates the impact of the fur trade on canadas development as a nation. This guide will help you find material in vancouver public library on the fur trade in canada. History of bc comprehensive article with timeline far west is a history of bc for young readers far west timeline. Both fur trading companies are discussed, but there is a greater focus on the hudsons bay company. A resident fur traders licence is issued to a person who makes their permanent residence in the province of british columbia and does their fur trading from that location. Native americans traded furs, deer hides, and meat for iron tools, wool blankets, colorful cloth, and guns.
While the carrier people agreed to participate in the fur trade, the economy started slow, because the people were fishers not trappers. List of fur trading post and forts in north america wikipedia. Spread of taoism and fur trade via the silk road timeline. It allows students to see how our cultural identity and economic system were rooted in the fur trade. The bc artifacts mobile museum tour started traveling to bc public and private schools in 2014 throughout the lower mainland. Canadian fur trade banned in the us 1816 after the war of 1812, the american government passed a law which made it illegal for canadians to trade furs in the united states. They trade metal weapons and tools for beaver, bear, and ermine pelts. The settlers then sold many of the furs back to europe. The north american fur trade was the industry and activities related to the acquisition, trade, exchange, and sale of animal furs in the north american continent. During the next century and a half, it gradually expanded its network of trading posts west across canada. For instance, one felt maker bundled the skins in a sack of linen and boiled them for. The fur trading industry played a major role in the development of the united states and canada for more than 300 years. Both furtrading companies are discussed, but there is a greater focus on the hudsons bay company. In this lesson, students will play a class game of i have.
Hbc fur trade post map hudsons bay company archives. Humane trapping research program leads the world truth about fur blog. From moscow to rome, the demand for beaver hats remained immense for more than 200 years. The north west america, the first european vessel built on the bc coast, was launched by. Phases of the fur trade timeline timetoast timelines. Distribute major fur trade posts and routes map to each student. When europeans first settled in north america, they traded with native americans. The first north american fur trading post was established at quebec in 1608. 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.
A commercial fur trade in north america grew out of the early contact. Using background information, brainstorm with class ways to trap animals in the fur trade and what the definition of a trading post is. Includes a learning centre and many teacher resources including the hbc hamper section below. Material on this subject can be found throughout the central library 350 west georgia street. Aboriginal peoples in canada and native americans in the united states of different regions traded among themselves in the precolumbian era, but europeans participated in the trade beginning from the time of their arrival in the new. Please note that only 494 hudsons bay company fur trade posts appear in these maps because the map is based on the fur trade posts originally included in the archives section b. In 1841, the governor of the hbc, george simpson, toured the area and decided to close all of the costal forts, save. This timeline spans from our countrys earliest inhabitants to the present. The audience will view, touch and discuss during and after a very engaging and informative power point presentation. Mistahimaskwa big bear 4th from left, a plains cree chief, trading fur at fort pitt, n. It quickly became the base for contact between fur traders and the nearby carrier indians, and gained the district name of new caledonia.
In this lesson, students will hear a story about life as a voyageurs family during the fur trade. Fur trade, landbased, was a trade for animal pelts carried on between aboriginal peoples and european traders. To navigate the timeline, click and drag it with your mouse, or click on the timeline overview on the bottom. Trappers traditionally move habitually along the route to set and check the traps, in so doing become skilled at traversing remote terrain, and become experts in. Historically the trade stimulated the exploration and colonization of siberia, northern north america, and the south shetland and. We are committed to the preservation, education, and promotion of hudsons bay companys history and the ongoing care and maintenance of the companys historical hbc corporate art, artifact, image, and reference collections. Hbc hamper website information, pictures, short video clip of the history of the hudsons bay company and the fur trade in canada. By this time, owhyhees are routinely hired for the fur trade and much prized as workers.
For most of the nineteenth century, victoria remained the largest city in british columbia and was the foremost in trade and commerce. It was at its peak for nearly 250 years, from the early 17th to the mid19th centuries. However, with construction of the transcontinental railway, vancouver, as its terminus, emerged as the major west coast port and the largest city in british columbia. Buffalo began to disappear and the demand for furs began to fall. The result came out as the whole fur trade switch to the british mercantile system which is a huge economic change. The fur trade in north america began almost as soon as europeans began their explorations of the north american mainland. A fur traders licence is necessary in british columbia to buy and sell furs.
A history 1958 she presented a structural model that has been adopted by numerous. The most significant facts about north american fur trade in interactive timeline full of images, videos, and quotations. Alberta time line chronological timetable of events. While talking have students fill in the blanks on the worksheet. Fur trade timeline red lake regional heritage centre. Beaver fur was very much in style and was used to make a multitude of things, particularly waterproof beaver felt hats. The mobile museum tour consists of an extensive collection of authentic first nations, pioneer, fur trade, and gold rush artifacts. The fur trade is part of canadas resourcebased economy and one of canadas oldest and most historically significant industries. Perhaps the most influential historian of british columbia has been margaret ormsby.
Related to the history of the canadian fur trade, this lesson identifies the fur bearing animals commonly hunted and trapped throughout canadian history. 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. Fur trade, chapter 2 of far west, on arrival of the traders. Canada and the fur trade history of the canadian fur trade. Hard to believe that were well into the middle of term. From 1650 to 1850, wisconsins economy revolved around fur in the way that todays economy revolves around oil. From both an historic and contemporary perspective, students inves.
These minor dealing began what would be one of the most sought after trade networks in the world. He also helped out americans who were settling in the area, as long as they stayed out of columbia. What was the best reason for britain selling ruperts land to canada. A hundred years before ikea, this furniture genius perfected the global chair game.
The american fur trade of the far west, volume 1 hiran martin chittenden, stallo vinton, james p. Fur trader and metis leader of the battle of seven oaks, cuthbert grant was appointed. Hbcs history is inextricably bound up with exploration, history and development of canada as a nation and the people who built our country. This forced the hudsons bay and north west company to join forces. Orphaned baby animals have a snuggly, new place to rest thanks to several fur donations. The fur trade opening the west first peoples of canada.
By the early 19th century, several companies established strings of fur trading posts and forts across north america. Dec 16, 2019 this guide will help you find material in vancouver public library on the fur trade in canada. From the fur trade to fifth avenue, explore over three centuries of hbc history. Hbc heritage is an internal department of hudsons bay company. 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. The hudsons bay company established outposts to support its trappers and traders. The fur trade originated out of the initial contact between native americans and fishermen working in the areas now known as quebec and newfoundland. Donated coats keeping orphaned critters safe and warm inside edition skip to. For the full citation, see the end of the document. The hudsons bay company, a fur trading enterprise headquartered in london, began operations on the shores of hudson bay in 1670. This is a fun roleplay game introducing students to the beaver pelt trade in canada. Related to the history of the canadian fur trade, this lesson identifies the furbearing animals commonly hunted and trapped throughout canadian history. The fur trade in canada the following timeline gives an overview of the history of the fur trade in canada. Canadian trade history timeline by shawn b on prezi.
In canada it began along the atlantic coast in the early 16th century when visiting fishers from europe came ashore to dry their catch, encountered the indigenous people and began to barter with them. As the demand for fur continued to grow in europe, british and french fur traders began to trap for furs themselves. The fur trade was a very important part of the canadian economy and from the 17th to 19th centuries attracted. The streets are lined with golden leaves and the air is crisp and clear. A timeline created with timetoasts interactive timeline maker. The fur trade was a booming business in north america from the 1500s through the 1800s. The hbc competed directly with france in the fur trade. Overview of the fur trade fur institute of canada fur. Canadian trade history timeline may 2nd, they were gifted a royal charter that turned the governor and company of adventures of england trading to hudsons bay company hbc 1800 1500 john cabot landed on the shores of newfoundland, in search of spices but instead found fish. Welcome to the bc artifacts mobile museum bc history tours website. A commercial fur trade in north america grew out of the early contact between indians and european fisherman who were netting cod on the grand banks off newfoundland and on the bay of gaspe near quebec. The first permanent settlement happened in the early 19th century as a result of the development of the fur trade. He managed the fur trade in the oregon country very efficicently.
British and france traders begin trade with native americans off of newfoundland. The fur trade in canada red lake regional heritage centre. The students will then play the fur trade game like an easter egg hunt where they collect furs to trade for items from a trading post. To set up the company, britain offered a group of merchants a monopoly on trade in an area it claimed as ruperts land. Emperor wudi establishes taoist advisors 500 bc 8 bc. History of the fur trade the fur trade in north america began during the 1500s when europeans explored the eastern coast. In the mid1800s, western industrial development had scarcely touched the colony of british columbia. The history of canadian trade timeline timetoast timelines. Tools for teaching history province of british columbia. Fur trade changing times in the nwt student activity. Because fur is waterproof, beaver skins could be pressed into felt for hats that kept people both warm and dry.
The drive west in 1763 new france became a british colony. When the company expanded west of the rocky mountains, it claimed a monopoly on trade in the area. Jun 29, 2017 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. Warring states period to the reign of emperor wudi of the western han dynasty, under the encouragement of both taoist experts and emperors and kings, a. During the 1820s and 30s, british columbia was largely run by the hudsons bay company, which controlled the majority of trading operations in the pacific northwest. History of the fur trade montana trappers association. British columbia facts, worksheets, geography, history. British columbia hbc fur trade post map hudsons bay. In the fur trade, a trapline is a route along which a trapper sets traps for his or her quarry. The story of british columbia in elementary and middle school classrooms. Originally politically constituted as a pair of british colonies, british columbia joined the canadian confederation on july 20, 1871. This is a brief description of the most significant events in the 250 years during which the fur trade flourished. The native americans often gave the settlers animal furs in exchange for weapons, metal goods, and other supplies.