#601 Quiet Quebec

 Fun Fact #601

Quiet Quebec

16 years after the Voyage of Christopher Columbus, the ship’s navigator Thomas Albert guided an expedition to the new world landing in what is now Newfoundland, with one goal in mind. They wanted to fish in peace, and returned to France a short time later. Thus began The French journey into North America.

After a few new expeditions into “New France” the French learned from Chief Donnacona that there was a powerful empire to the West filled with riches called “The Kingdom of Sauguenay” which they immediately sought to conquer.  

. . . 

Yeah turns out there was no Kingdom of Sauguenay, that was just a story made up by Chief Donnacona to get the French to stop abducting his people to show off back in France like  human “pets”. The deception worked and instead of becoming a show, they instead became traders and guides to The French. They traded Cod fish and whale oil for metal tools helping the first French Colony (Charlesbourg Royal) to become profitable. It was at this point France discovered something which would bring the wealth they were promised by Chief Donnacona: Beaver Skins. By 1700 around 20,000 French Nationals were in North America composed of Farmers and trappers (The census did not count Native Americans in the census which supported the French and are thought to have been 5 for every Frenchman). 

Yet peace and quiet would not last as Britain wanted Beaver Furs of their own, sparking the start of The French and Indian wars (The Colonial Wars as it’s known in Quebec).

As always thanks for reading and Please have a wonderful day.

Painting of Jacques Cartier who explored much of Quebec and worked with Chief Donnacona.