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Forts Across Canada - Fur Trade Posts

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Forts Across Canada unit study

Here is a fun and interesting way to learn about the Geography and History of Canada. Along with the two other modules you could cross Canada through three distinct time periods! Fur Trade posts began European settlement in the New World. It was a hard life in a cold country!

The Fur Trade

The fur trade in Canada began in the 1500s when early explorers would give the natives kettles, knives and other gifts as a token of friendship. The natives returned the gift in the form of furs. Trading posts protected the first *stores.* As the fur trade grew traders traveled farther into the wilderness to hunt. They built simple forts to protect their territory as well as to survive the wilderness.

Native American Trading Furs, 1777



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Did You Know!

Many of these forts became today's cities, some places are still called by their fort names.

First forts

Fur Trade in Alaska, Fort Saint-Michel, 1867



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The first permanent settlement in what was to become Canada was built in 1605. It was a small log fort guarded by four bronze cannons carried from France. This fort was in Nova Scotia and was called Port Royal. Port Royal set the pattern for almost all the major forts in Canada.

Download the entire unit study to determine the similarities and differences between the fur trade forts and a medieval castle!

Did You Know!

Samuel de Champlain, a map maker and explorer, sketched the plans for the fort based on designs of castles.

Build your own forts!

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Fur Trade Companies

To support the growing fur trade, a network of trading posts were built along Canada's rivers. Two companies, the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company often built forts near each other and one after another.

Download the entire unit study to see what prices at the fur trade posts were like.

Native Americans Bartering Their Furs for Goods at a Trading-Post, c.1800



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Did You Know?

Eventually, the two companies were joined together under the name Hudson's Bay Company.

Trade routes

Lakes and rivers were the highways that connected the forts and so goods were transported by canoes. Voyageurs were the men who ventured into the wilderness to get furs and bring them to the forts.

Download the entire unit study to find out more about the Voyageurs and their canoes!

Two San Blas Island Women Paddle a Canoe Filled with Trade Goods



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Did You Know?

A Voyageur was expected to paddle at 55 strokes per minute

Seven Years War

From 1756 to 1763 Britain and France battled with each other in the Seven Years War. This fighting made its way into the colonies and skirmishes broke out all over North America. The winner of this war would control the fur trade.

Download the entire unit study to find out the outcome of this battle!

Field Marshal Baron Ernst Von Laudon, General in Seven Years' War and War of Bavarian Succession



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Did You Know?

The war ended in Europe with the Treaty of Paris.

Decline of the beaver

Before the fur trade there were more than six million beaver in Canada. The high demand for beaver pelt in Europe caused the beaver, in Europe to become extinct. The fur trade in North America threatened the extinction of the beaver too.

Download the entire unit study to read about Grey Owl and how he tried to save the beaver population.

Native Americans Bringing Beaver Pelts to White Traders



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Did You Know?

Grey Owl was not who he pretended to be!

Save Endangered Animals

Be like Grey Owl and help save some animals that are in danger of becoming extinct
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Try it Yourself!

Download the full unit study to supplement your lessons or as a lesson itself.

Want to comment on the unit study? Once your child has finished the unit study you can send a comment/quote about it for us to use in our promotions. You will get to pick a free book from our online educational thrift store!

For the complete unit study go where Education + Fun = #1

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Thanks for reading!

  • Zut_Moon Dec 24, 2011 @ 9:46 am | delete
    Did you know that the battle on the Plains of Abraham only lasted 15 minutes. licknerd
  • Hedremp Dec 24, 2011 @ 9:54 am | delete
    thanks for the info - perhaps I will have to study that more to add to the unit study!
  • Zut_Moon Nov 21, 2011 @ 2:42 pm | delete
    I love Canadian History .... why not ... I live in Halifax !!!

    Thanks for the lens.
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