Fur Trade in Wisconsin

1. Fur Trade in Wisconsin Main Idea Notes on the Wisconsin Fur Trade

2. White Men Coming to WI • Priests – conversion to Catholicism • Explorers – natural resources/trade route east (Asia) • Had heard and seen gold/riches coming back with the Spanish so the French too were intrigued. • Jean Nicolet (1634) • Interacted with the Native tribes he encountered – wanted to make peace with them • Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Potawatomi

3. French and Indian • Became trade partners • French learned their language and culture • Metis – French and Indian babies • Traded furs for European goods • Improved Indian farming • Helped hunters • Native philosophy: the creator brings the animal to an individual as a gift and the animal willingly sacrifices its life so the person may eat and be clothed – regardless European goods improved efficiency

4. Disadvantages for the Indians • Had to meet the demand (almost impossible) • Depletion of resources • Hunting parties from one tribe move into hunting grounds of neighboring tribes = conflict • Tribes split and spread out – altering the sense of community. • Male hunters were absent from families for long periods of time – women adopted male tasks. • Women were not asked for advice as much as they used to; tribes became more male dominated (Americanization) • Introduction of alcohol • No tolerance and quickly became addicted. • Fur trade depleted natural resources, and Indian communities suffered great loss due to European diseases, many became impoverished = turned to alcohol to forget their problems.

5. British Arrive • 1740s – British traders arrived and challenged the French (French and Indian War) • British defeated the French in 1759 (took over the fur trade) • WI Indians resented this – French understood the Native practice of gift-giving and good relations • British used fear tactics and threats (tyranny)

6. Pontiac’s Rebellion 1763 • Pontiac organized Indian groups of the Western Great Lakes in a rebellion against the British (no Menominee or Ho-Chunk) • Captured many British forts but could not hold onto them. • British passed the Proclamation of 1763 – forbade colonists from settling west of the Appalachians (largely ignored) • Reintroduction of the French practice of gift-giving, relaxing the restrictions on selling guns and ammunition to tribes.

7. After the American Revolution • American government took control of the fur trade (government-run posts) • Did not work as the old system continued to be utilized under the table. • Americans didn’t know how to cultivate relationships with WI Indians • Charged high prices for their hunting supplies (impoverishing the natives more) • Freely traded alcohol for furs (alcohol abuse)

8. Depletion • 1830s – population of some fur bearing animals were dwindling. • Beaver were nearly extinct/once fashionable was now out of style. • Lumber was the next go to, until deforestation took its toll on those resources • Predominantly lead mining became popular in parts of WI – other resources were mined as well. • Lead prices dropped = miners turned to farming • Rich soil brought settlers to WI (wanted land – Native land)