	AllExperts > French Canadian Culture
	Search

About Jo-Ann
Expertise
I can answer most questions on French-Canadian culture, geography, history, language, style, Quebec-Canada relations, aboriginal issues.

Experience
Born and raised bi-lingual and bi-cultural in Quebec. Have also lived in Franco-Ontarian communities. Several years experience in the tourism industry before becoming a teacher. Education Credentials: B.A. in French language & literature (McGill University, Montreal,1992), Dip. Ed. (McGill, 1995), Currently working on M.A.degree in History Awards and Honors:Jean Launay Translation Award (McGill University, 1992)

You are here: Experts > Cultures > French-Canadian Culture > French Canadian Culture > early settlers

French Canadian Culture - early settlers

Expert: Jo-Ann - 10/8/2009

Question
How many immigrants arrived from the Europe (France) from 1617 to 1759, and remained? That is, what is the count of settlers who were born in the old world and died in the new during the French Regime? Approximate is okay, I realize there are variables with soldiers and clerics who, for various reasons, were unable to return to France before the end of their lives.

Answer
What an interesting question! Reliable immigration data is difficult to come by. Many of those early settlers came and stayed for a while, and then returned to France. Harsh winter and disease claimed others, and yet others fell victim to marauding natives or American incursions.

The first wave of some 6,000 French settlers arrived to populate Champlain's first permanent French settlements at Louisbourg and Quebec City. Of that first wave, very few were permanent settlers who remained to form a permanent population.

New France was established initially as a trading colony. In 1626, Louis XIII's Prime Minister, Cardinal Richelieu (yes, THAT Cardinal Richelieu) established the Compagnie des Cent Associes (the Company of the 100 Associates) to oversee the fur trade in New France. The Company made provisions for some 4,000 French colonists to settle in New France. Of that first wave, most were adventurers came from France to make their fortunes in the fur trade then return home. Of these, several became "coureur des bois" and went to live in the hinterlands, where reliable records were not kept. We have no reliable count,for example, of how many "went native." The few that remained were primarily soldiers and artisans. There were very few women who immigrated at that time. Most women who did immigrate did so as members of religious communities.

Population figures dwindled to dangerous lows and it as feared that in the face of American incursions and native hostilities, the colony would lack the strength to survive. Under Louis XIV, a new immigration initiative was launched in 1663 wereby some 2,000 soldiers (mostly of the Carignan Salieres Regiment) were sent to New France to rebuff American invasion attempts and to quell Iroquois unrest. At the end of their enlistment the men were offered homesteads and other incentives to remain in New France. One great incentive was lacking, however, and shortly after the arrival of the first soldiers of the Carignan-Salieres Regiment, the King's Finance Minsiter, Jean-Baptiste Colbert arranged to transport some eight-hundred "Filles du Roi" to New France and provide them with a modest dowry.

After 1673, the French Crown's involvement with immigration diminished, with the exception of immigration incentives offered to French soldiers. It was deemed that the population of New France was now large enough to ensure the colony's survival. Still, New France was never an easy sell, and by 1759, the colony had a population of only 60,000.

Add to this Answer Ask a Question