New France

The French King, Louis XIV

• Born: September 5, 1638 • Death: September 1, 1715) • He believed a nation obtained

strength and prosperity through self-sufficiency.

• He believed that colonies provided the greatest means by which France could become more powerful, because they were sources of raw materials and ready markets for finished goods.

• In 1663, Louis XIV assumed the political, military, and economic responsibility for New France.

• As a result, New France was governed for the next 100 years.

The Seigneurial System

Island Orleans

Feudal System came from Europe (Pay Taxes & Public Works)

System of Governance

Jean Talon was the first intendant (Business Manager) of New France.

Governor Frontenac was the first Governor (Military) in New France.

Francis of LavalFirst Bishop of New France.

The Seigneurial System• Because New France was a rural society with almost four out of

every five people living on a farm, one of the roots of daily life was the Seigneurial System.

• A land distribution and holding system patterned on European feudalism.

• The King owned all land in New France.

• Seigneuries were grants of land made by the Crown to members of the nobility and varied in size from ten square kilometers to close to two hundred square kilometers.

• The seigneurs, or lords, in turn, then parceled out the land and rented it to the habitants who worked it.

Duties of the Seigneur

• Subdivided the land into 32-hectare parcels and then granted land to the Habitants.

• Built a house and flour mill on the Seigneury.• Contributed to the construction of the church.• Reported the following information to the the

Intendant.– 1. The population of the Seigneury.– 2. The amount of land under cultivation.– 3. The Dues paid.

Duties of the Habitant

• Pays taxes or dues to the Seigneur

• Build a house and farm the land.

• Perform unpaid labour for the Seigneur (3 days-Corvée)

• Gives a percentage of his produce (fish, crops , animals)

Old seigneurial manor house • Two factors caused the narrow strip

farming running away from the rivers that became characteristic of New France.

• First, everyone needed water access for irrigation and transportation.

• Second, the French had an inheritance system that called for all children to inherit equally, as opposed to the English system of primogeniture whereby the eldest male got everything.

• As one generation gave way to the next, the farms were divided lengthwise, always with water access. As a result, the landscape of New France was an endless series of narrow farms running to the water's edge.