Economy of New France
S
definitions
S Triangular Trade – economic system where a colony can only trade with
the parent country or with other colonies from the same country
S Mercantilism – colonies would supply France with inexpensive raw
materials, and buy manufactured goods from France in return (very
lucrative for France)
S Industry – the production of goods – New France’s two main industries
were fishing (fished off shore for cod, mackerel, and halibut, preserved it on
shore and sent it to France on a ship) and the fur trade
S Economy – the management of the money, property, and goods of a
country (New France’s economy depended on the fishing industry and the
fur trade)
S When you are done, answer questions 1 and 2 on page H41
S 1. In your own words, explain what Champlain reported
about the conditions he saw in New France in 1618.
S He reported that it was possible to raise vegetables of high
quality in New France. He attributed the quality of the
vegetables not to the skill of the workers, but to the natural
excellence of the soil.
S 2. a) Create an organized web chart to show types of goods
that:
S France’s colonies exported to it,
S France exported to its colonies, and
S the colonies traded with one another.
S b) Who do you think benefited most from this and why?
S France tended to benefit from this. It got a monopoly on producing
manufactured goods. The colonies could produce only raw materials, many of
which France could not produce itself (such as furs and sugar).
S c) Why did New France not really make France as rich as Champlain
hoped it might?
S New France had a harsh climate and a small settler population (only 28 000
people in 1717, compared with 446 000 in New England.) The growing season
in New France was quite short and the winters were severe. As a result, New
France developed more slowly than Champlain had hoped.