What were the two opposing views or concepts on the colonization of
New France?
The two opposing views centered around whether New France should develop as a
colony based on settlement or as a colony based on the exploitation of the fur
trade.
Characteristics of a colony based on settlement
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Its purpose was to create a society in New France similar to that in France through
settlement.
To have such a colony it would need to send to New France farmers, priests,
soldiers, administrators, women, and artisans.
The colonizers wanted a diversified economy not an economy based solely on the
exploitation of the fur trade.
This concept of colonization had the support of the King, religious orders and
colonizers.
Characteristics of a colony based on the fur trade
Its purpose was to exploit the fur trade for the
benefit of merchants and fur trading monopoly
companies such as the Company of 100
Associates. Basically, they wanted New
France to be a fur-trading outpost. To have
such a colony it would need mainly men
meaning merchants, coureurs de bois,
independent traders and company agents.
Settlers were not welcome as they were
expensive to bring over and they could act as
competitors in the fur trade. The fur traders
only wanted to develop and exploit the fur
trade since it did not require a large initial
investment and it was very profitable. This
type of colony had the support of the fur
trading companies, fur traders and merchants.
Throughout most of New France's
history, despite some attempts at
settlement, the colony of New France
was based on the exploitation of the
fur trade. A major factor behind this
was the belief in the economic theory
of mercantilism.
Coureur de Bois in Typical Dress
Hemming /National Archives of
Canada/C-5746