Life in New France

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Life in New France
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A. Social System

• Loyalty to France
• People in New France always loyal to France
• Kept French traditions and customs
• Life based around church, the manor, and farming
• Segneurial System
• New France similar to old feudal system in France
• French lords (seigneurs) own the land
• habitants or peasant farmers, cultivated land in
  exchange for rent and services
• peasant farmers of New France more prosperous
  than European counterparts
• both seigneurs and habitants worked in fur trade
  and were generally prosperous

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• Role of Fur Trade for Habitant
• habitants often supplemented their income by
  working part time in fur trade
• habitants lived farming lifestyle that followed
  the season
• supplemented their diet and income with natural
  wealth of new world furs, fish and local berries
• New Cultural Traditions Emerge
• The Habitants quickly developed own culture and
  traditions
• reflection of their European roots, Catholic
  beliefs and their N. American lifestyle.
• small towns began to grow along the St. Lawrence
  River
• largest such as Quebec City and Montreal
  important military or strategic locations.
• military bases protected Frances interests in
  North America from Native populations, English
  and eventually Americans

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Seigneurial System of Land Settlement
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Obligations Tit for Tat

• Habitant Obligation to Seigneur
• Habitants paid 2 bushels of wheat, 1 live
  chicken, and 5 a year to seigneur
• Tithed 1/26th of wheat harvested to live on and
  work the land
• Paid rent
• Provided service to Seigneur
• Cleared trees from lots
• Gave 3 to 4 days of free labour to Seigneur
• Served in militia
• Kept land productive
• Ground grain

• Seigneur Obligation to Habitant
• Bring in settlers and clear land
• Build Church on seigneury
• Grant concessions (farm lots)
• Hold a court to settle minor disputes
• Right to repossess land, if not used.

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Seigneur's Manor
Manor
Farmhouse
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Habitant Farmhouse
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New France Assignment

• Instructions Select 1 of the 4 tasks listed and
  do a quality job.

• Imagine that you are living in a typical 17th
  century habitant family. Describe the ways in
  which you life would be different from the one
  you are currently experiencing.. You may give a
  written response, or create a drawing depicting
  the differences
• Imagine that you are a 16 year old boy who is
  very respectful of this father. Youve met a 15
  year old girl you want to marry. Write a letter
  to your father making that request
• Draw a map of New France indicating the pattern
  of the seigneuries. Also, include the manor
  house, mill, river, and any other important
  details.
• Working in groups of three, write the dialogue
  and then role play a dispute between a seigneur
  and his habitant. They both are arguing that the
  other has not lived up fully to his
  responsibilities. The third member of the group
  is the intendant who will ask questions and
  render a final decision. You will perform in
  front of the class.