Westward Expansion (
1715–79
)
Between 1715 and the Seven Years’ War (1756–63), the fur trade expanded greatly and served a variety of purposes — economic, political and scientific.
Where did the fur traders settle in the Midwest?
In Green Bay, the first permanent European settlement in the Midwest,
Heritage Hill State Historical Park
preserves fur-trader cabins and a Jesuit chapel. Madeline Island was a fur-trade center; in La Pointe, the Madeline Island Historical Museum has excellent exhibits on the fur trade.
Why did the fur traders move west?
Many American Indians became dependent upon European-American trade goods, while others fought with each other for control of the hunting grounds. … By the end of the fur trade era, the American population was ready to move
west in search of new opportunities
.
Where did fur traders settle?
This settlement marked the beginning of the westward movement of French traders from the first permanent settlement of
Tadoussac
at the mouth of the Saguenay River on the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, up the Saint Lawrence River and into the pays d’en haut (or “upper country”) around the Great Lakes.
What replaced the fur trade?
Animal rights organizations oppose the fur trade, citing that animals are brutally killed and sometimes skinned alive. Fur has been replaced in some clothing by
synthetic imitations
, for example, as in ruffs on hoods of parkas.
Who benefited from the fur trade?
The fur trade contributed to the development of
British and French empires
in North America. During the 1600’s, the prospect of wealth from the fur trade attracted many Europeans to the New World. Traders and trappers explored much of North America in search of fur.
What did fur traders eat?
Their diet included
biscuits, pork and beans, pancakes, dried peas, cornmeal and pemmican
(dried meat that could be eaten fried, or even made into a stew seasoned with maple syrup or berries).
How many beavers were killed in the fur trade?
Two hundred plus years of the fur trade killed off beaver populations—
40 to 60 million beavers
basked in North America in the 19
th
century before hunters massacred them for hats and perfume. Now in revival mode, the comeback kits have grown to around 10 to 50 million beavers across the continent (including Mexico).
When did the fur trade start and end?
The fur trade began
in the 1600s
in what is now Canada. It continued for more than 250 years. Europeans traded with Indigenous people for beaver pelts. The demand for felt hats in Europe drove this business.
What three factors ended the fur trade?
- to see if river travel all the way to the Pacific Ocean was. possible.
- to learn about the land, plants, animals.
- to learn about the native Indian people.
What is beaver fur called?
There were two types of beaver pelts:
castor gras
and castor sec. The term “castor gras” designates pelts taken by the Indians when prime, trimmed into rectangular shape, 5 to 8 of them sewn together and worn with the fur next to the body for 12 to 18 months.
Is the fur industry declining?
Euromonitor International estimates the global production of fur and fur products (including faux fur)
declined 2.6 percent last year
. In Western Europe, the decline was 13.3 percent.
How many animals were killed in the fur trade?
Each year,
around one hundred million animals
are bred and killed on intensive fur farms specifically to supply the fashion industry with not only traditional fur coats but, increasingly, real fur trim for hooded jackets, and real fur pompoms used on hats, gloves, shoes and a range of other clothing and accessories.
Why is beaver fur so valuable?
The pelts of American beavers are
valuable in the fur trade
and are largely used in making coats and hats. During the first several centuries of the European colonization of North America, beaver pelts were one of the most important natural resources to be exported from the northern regions of that continent.
How much are mink pelts worth?
A typical mink pelt sold for
more than $90 at auction in 2013
, while last year skins fetched around $30. This was despite a fall in global production to just under 60 million pelts last year, from more than 80 million in 2014.
Why was the fur trade bad?
The fur trade resulted in many long term effects that
negatively impacted Native people throughout North America
, such as starvation due to severely depleted food resources, dependence on European and Anglo-American goods, and negative impacts from the introduction of alcohol-which was often exchanged for furs.
