HBC& NW Companies

Ms. Garcha
Social Studies 10
Northwest Rebellion Unit Outcomes
1) What drew settlers westward?
2) How is the land exploited for profit?
3) How did westward expansion affect Aboriginal
people? How did it affect the land?
4) How did geography of the land determine settlement
patterns?
5) How did this all affect the character & future of
Canada?
For Want of a Hat
Important Facts Reasons why
-Fashion for hats is what -Beaver hats is what
drew the HBC to Hudson brought the settlers
Bay
-Why this hat was so
-Once sheared from the fashionable that the HBC
pelt, the fine dense fur, felt it was worth bringing
could be pressed into a their business to Hudson
glossy felt that was Bay
waterproof
-Hats = precious. Some
men might leave one for his - the HBC was able to
son in his will continue business after the
beaver hats went out of
- Silk overtook the beaver fashion
hats in the 19th century but
by then the beaver was
prized for its fur, not just
for its felt
Fur Trade in North America
Important Facts
-Furs used for clothing, to cover
beds during the winter, hats etc.
-The fur traders bought furs from
Aboriginals & sold goods, such
as metal hatchets & pots
-Fur traders were economic
imperialists & wanted to exploit
the land for profit
Reasons why
Traders traveled to North
America using rivers & lakes to
get furs
-Fur traders & Aboriginal people
started out trading together (but
eventually colonization did
occur)
- Although the fur traders did not
plan to permanently settle, they
did want to economically
dominate the area. Their actions
had consequences on the land &
the Aboriginal peoples lifestyle
 A Savage Commerce
Important Facts
-Hunting was a spiritual
experience
-The main reason the fur trade
operated as smoothly as it did
was because the HBC traders
tapped into an existing Indian
economic network
- The Aboriginals became
dependent on European goods.
Items such as traps & rifles
became necessary. Ex. of this
dependency was the Cree Dene
animosity, some of which arose
from trade- based conflicts
- Trading patterns were not unjust
but the economic base of Indian
survival mode was undermined
Reasons Why
-Aboriginal view of animals
differed from the Europeans as
the Europeans were killing
animals only for profit.
- The HBC would not have been as
successful as it was without the
Aboriginal people
- Aboriginal people only used
bows & arrows for hunting prior to
trading with Europeans. The
arrival of the rifle brought more
human violence.
- It became harder for Aboriginals
to survive after the fur bearing
animals were slaughtered & the
buffalo began to die off
Role of Mercantilism in Colonialism

Important Facts Reasons why

-Through wealth a nation can -A country gets wealthy by

achieve power exporting more than it imports.
Selling these exports = profit.
Explains why Europeans were
interested in North America

-Countries want to spend less on -North America would be good

raw materials & sell their colony for Europeans because of
finished product for a high price the raw materials

-Colonies couldnt sell their raw - North America as a colony

mats to anyone but their home would not benefit. They would be
country & couldnt manufacture exploited
anything for export.
(Mercantilism serves empire, not
colony)
HBC NW Company

-Stay by the Bay built -Sent traders to the

forts near bay for traders Aboriginals & where furs
to come to the co. rather were (rather than staying
than co. going to traders by the bay)

-Goods were traded for -Goods were traded for

furs but not alcohol furs, including alcohol

-Profits in co. shared by -Profits in co. shared by

investors, not employees employees & investors

-Forbid marriages -Encouraged marriages

between traders & between traders &
Aboriginals to get more Aboriginals to get more
furs (didnt want furs
dependents)