Canada Moves West Arrival of Settlers

1
Canada Moves WestArrival of Settlers
2
A. Arrival of Settlers

• Economic Impact
• fur trade a great economic endeavor for HBC and
  NWC
• In todays dollars a multi-million dollar
  industry
• Fur trade violence
• competition between HBC and NWC resulted in price
  wars
• often led to ambushes and violence and death
• Lord Selkirk, a rich Scot, waded into rivalry
  when he founded Red River Colony (HBC fort)

3

• Impact of Red River Colony
• NWC saw colony of transplanted Scots as threat to
  their fur trading business
• resulted in Pemmican War of 1814 and Battle of
  Seven Oaks
• fierceness of competition almost bankrupted the
  two companies
• Merger of HBC and NWC
• under strong suggestion from British govt, they
  amalgamated and became the HBC in 1821
• New Leadership for HBC
• George Simpson appointed governor of Ruperts
  Land and new HBC
• he governed the interior of Canada for the next
  40 years
• Simpson a powerful man nicknamed the Little
  Emperor
• his leadership insured survival of HBC
• ideas included conservation of fur bearing animals