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The Northwest in the 1800s

The Northwest in the 1800s. Horizons p. 130-134. The Hudson’s Bay Company. Founded in 1670 by Radisson and de Groseillers If King Charles II (GB) would back their fur trading business, they would help GB control the fur trade Charles agreed and claimed the area around Hudson’s Bay

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The Northwest in the 1800s

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  1. The Northwest in the 1800s Horizons p. 130-134

  2. The Hudson’s Bay Company • Founded in 1670 by Radisson and de Groseillers • If King Charles II (GB) would back their fur trading business, they would help GB control the fur trade • Charles agreed and claimed the area around Hudson’s Bay • He named it “Rupert’s Land” after his cousin • HBC then had the exclusive trading rights to the area

  3. The HBC built trading posts at the mouths of rivers emptying into Hudson’s Bay • The HBC encouraged native fur traders to bring their furs to the posts to exchange them for trade goods • This policy was called “stay at the bay” • Beaver pelts were so valuable that they were used as currency • Furs were assessed in terms of their relative value to a “made beaver” pelt • When the value of the pelt was set, traders could purchase goods at the Post’s store • Trading standard was strict – no bargaining!

  4. The HBC had a rigid hierarchy: • Company directors ran the company from London and they got all the profits • Local Post bosses were called “Factors” • Posts were called “Factories” • Everyone was British and a salaried employee • Furs were shipped directly to England every summer when the Posts received their trade goods for the year.

  5. The Northwest Company • Established in 1783 and “tested” the HBC’s control and policies • When New France fell in 1763, the French fur trade was seized by a group of English merchants – “the Montrealers” – who expanded their network into the NWC by 1783 • The NWC began to build posts inland, closer to native traders • Their major trading post was Fort William

  6. The structure of the company was based on partnerships: • Montreal partners bought trade goods from England and arranged for the sale and shipping of furs to GB • The hivernants – “wintering partners” – remained in the NW and did the actual fur trading • The voyageurs paddled the cargo canoes on the journeys from Fort William to Montreal and back • Canots du Nord – 7 m, 1500 kilos, 6 men • Canots du Maitre– 11 m, 4000 kilos, 12 men

  7. The NWC actively sought out new trade routes and built new posts • They were willing to bargain with native fur traders and also traded alcohol for furs • By 1800, their network extended as far west as BC and as far north as Great Slave Lake • See map in Horizons p. 133

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