Post on 31-Dec-2015
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The Merger of the HBC The Merger of the HBC and the NWCand the NWC
Changes at Red River ColonyChanges at Red River Colony
• By 1820 both HBC and NWC were suffering financially
• Fur resources were declining
• Profits were shrinking
MergerMerger
• In 1821, the companies joined together
• There were 100 shares in the company
• The HBC controlled 45 shares
• The NWC controlled 55 shares
• The Company was called the Hudson’s Bay Company
BenefitsBenefits
• Great Britain gave the new company control over Rupert’s Land
• It extended the monopoly to west of the Rocky Mountains
• The company controlled over half modern Canada
HBC Maintains PowerHBC Maintains Power
• Even though the NWC had more shares in the company the HBC maintained control.
• The old HBC trading routes were used because they were cheaper
• By 1825, the NWC partners sold their shares back to the HBC
Native PeoplesNative Peoples
• The company reduced the number of its European employees after the merger
• They relied on the Native people as:• Guides• Trappers• Translators• Map makers• Canoe builders
• Native women worked at the post• Gardening• Tending Livestock• Chopping Wood
• If pemmican was not available the HBC relied on the Native people to provide meat for the posts.
A New Boss:A New Boss:
George SimpsonGeorge Simpson
• George Simpson became Governor of the Governor of the Northwest DepartmentNorthwest Department
• Dynamic and an experienced manager
• Spent 40 years traveling across Rupert’s Land visiting trading posts
The Little Emperor
• Autocratic leader
• High standards
• Arrived at the post without warning
Frances SimpsonFrances Simpson
• 18 year old wife of George Simpson
• Simpson was also married to a native woman in Red River
• Simpson’s Red River Family was shipped away from the post before Frances arrived
Anti-social Simpson’sAnti-social Simpson’s
• Mrs. Simpson refused to socialize with the Metis wives at the post
• The Simpson’s were isolated from the community
• It was lonely and George Simpson started writing down all of the faults of his employees in his “character” book
• The Simpsons left Red River in 1832
• They later settled in Montreal
• George Simpson died in 1860.