French Fur Trade: Impact on North America's History

Introduction: Mercantilism and the Origins of the Fur Trade

With the discovery of the "New World" came an increased need for European nations to compete for resources. The concept of mercantilism that drove European political and economic thought argued that resources were finite and that power belonged to those who could first secure them. When French and English governments saw that the Spanish returned from America laden with precious metals and gold, they too wanted a share of the wealth of discovery. Even as Columbus continued to comb the West Indies, both France and England sent exploratory teams to the northern reaches of the American continent. Through their discoveries, one of the most important early products from America was commoditized.

By the time the Pilgrims stepped upon the shores of Plymouth Rock in 1620, the French explorer Étienne Brûlé had already skirted the shores of Lake Superior, becoming the first European to explore the middle reaches of North America (Belden, 32). The development of the fur trade occurred organically and became one of the earliest and most important industries on the continent. It provided the essential pathways and connections that defined early relationships between Native Americans and Europeans (Innis, preface). The fur industry played a major role in shaping the commerce of both the United States and Canada for more than three hundred years.

At its inception, the fur trade began in the late 1500s as a method of exchange between Native Americans and Europeans. Although the practice was initially seen as a gesture of goodwill toward Native peoples, Europeans — and the French especially — soon recognized the potential profits in fur. They could trade basic tools and weapons to Native Americans in exchange for valuable quantities of pelts. Beaver fur was especially profitable in the European market; the French were the first to recognize that the trade in fur would be just as lucrative as discoveries of gold and other rare materials. Beaver fur was used primarily for felt hats, and animal fur in general formed the majority of scarves and hats sold in Europe (Innis, 5).

In effect, the fur trade brought about a revolution in both macroeconomic and microeconomic terms. From a macroeconomic perspective, it changed demand within Europe: where attention had previously been divided between silk and other oriental materials and traditional fur, the new abundance supplied by the North American fur trade encouraged Europeans to shift decisively toward this alternative (Belden, 45). An entire industry was born as a direct consequence. At the same time, a significant microeconomic transformation was underway in North America itself. The traditionally nomadic Native American population began to rely upon fur trading as a means of livelihood, and Europeans in turn established a vibrant trading network built around fur-trading outposts. Entire communities soon grew up around the founding principle of fur trading. The French, more than any other European group, dominated fur trading — especially within Canada and Middle America (Belden, 51). They built strong relationships with Native American tribes throughout the Great Lakes region and developed both communities and a complex transportation system for the distribution of furs.

The fur trade ultimately died out in the mid-1800s as rampant over-trapping led to the scarcity of fur-bearing animals across North America. Yet in the intervening three hundred years, the fur trade dramatically altered the livelihoods, cultures, and overall trajectories of many different peoples (Innis, preface). The analysis that follows examines the impact of the French fur trade and its effects on the culture and geographic organization of North America.

Early French-Native American Trade Networks

The earliest fur traders in North America were French explorers and fishermen operating in the far reaches of Eastern Canada in the early 1500s. In their efforts to connect with the Native American population and capitalize on newly formed relationships, these explorers discovered an extremely profitable model of trade (Anderson, npg). They exchanged kettles, knives, and other goods as a means of establishing strong partnerships. The mutual exchange of value created a surge of demand for such goods in Europe, and interest in fur drove further French exploration across the continent (Innis, 18).

Demand for beaver was especially intense throughout Europe. The French, already the traditional suppliers of exotic furs to the rest of Europe, saw the Native American network as an ideal extension of their existing trade. Interest in fur expanded from beaver to fox, marten, mink, and otter. This escalating consumer demand in Europe continuously spurred French exploration and relationship-building in North America.

Geographic Expansion and French Colonial Settlement

The impact of increased demand was dramatic for both French exploration teams and the Native American population. For the French, the exploration of the New World was no longer merely a fascinating venture — it had become a serious economic institution. French explorers became increasingly entrepreneurial in nature. In 1608, Samuel de Champlain became the first French explorer to establish a trading post at the site of present-day Quebec (Innis, 40). Canada proved an ideal centralized location for fur trading because its cold climate supported massive populations of fur-bearing animals. Quebec became the hub of the fur trade as it expanded along the St. Lawrence River and around the Great Lakes.

French colonies in North America became organized around the fur trade, and their spread across the continent consistently followed river systems that allowed furs to be shipped back from distant expeditions (Innis, 42). The entire French presence in North America centered on trading destinations, particularly along the Mississippi River. As a result, French activity led to their ownership and exploration of the majority of the Great Plains and the Midwest.

References

Anderson, Dean L. (1991). Variability in trade at eighteenth-century French outposts. In French Colonial Archaeology: The Illinois Country and the Western Great Lakes, edited by John A. Walthall, pp. 218–236. University of Illinois Press, Urbana.

Anderson, Harry H. (1961). The Fort Lookout trading post sites — a reexamination. Plains Anthropologist 6(14): 221–229.

Belden, A. L. (1917). The Fur Trade of America. Peltries Publishing Co., New York.

Burley, D., J. Scott Hamilton, and Knut R. Fladmark. (1996). Prophecy of the Swan: The Upper Peace River Fur Trade of 1794–1823. University of British Columbia Press, Vancouver.

Innis, Harold. (1956). The Fur Trade in Canada. University of Ontario Press, Toronto.

Rich, E. E. (1966). Montreal and the Fur Trade. McGill University Press, Montreal.