Jan 28-Feb 01

History:

The Jesuits were a group of Catholic missionary priests sent to New France by Samuel de Champlain to convert the Aboriginals to Christianity.

The Jesuits were in charge of developing the Church (religion), education (schools), and health care (hospitals) in New France.

The Jesuits headquartered a mission in Sainte-Marie in Huronia living among the Huron Aboriginals (current day Midland, Ontario).

The Jesuits had an influence on political life and government which administered the colony of New France.

Huronia was destroyed by disease (scurvy), death, and war resulting from the Aboriginals not wanting to be converted to Christianity and Iroquois rivals attacking.

The first French settlement was located in Acadia (present day Nova Scotia) at Port Royal near the Bay of Fundy.  A Habitation (fortress, compound) was built and life evolved around farming, hunting, and fishing.

Unlike the French, the British were not particularly interested in colonization but rather profit and controlling the fur trade to gain wealth and power.

The Atlantic (Eastern) coast of early North America was settled by the English, Irish, Scottish, German, and Dutch forming the 13 colonies.

The Hudson's Bay Company was formed by a group of British investors.  All of the land in and around Hudson's Bay was claimed and monopolized by Prince Rupert.  Trading posts and forts were set up on the banks so British and Aboriginals could easily exchange furs for European goods.

Both Aboriginals and British benefited because both got goods that they could not normally produce themselves.  (British: beaver pelts  Aboriginals: European goods)