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Jean Talon
“The Empire Strikes Back”
The “Sun King”Has Spoken…
Louis XIV is the absolute
monarch in N.F as of 1663.
1665 –Iroquois Nations attack
French posts.
- 1100 French soldiers
(Carignan-Salieres Regiment) sent
to end Iroquois threat.
Jean Talon intendant of New
France (1665-1672).
Jean Talon’s mandate was to
populate the Colony (doubled pop
from 3,215 in 1666 to more than
70,000 in 1672).
Louis XIV
Reasons For Low Population
Far from France
Difficult ocean crossing
Cold climate
Fur trade did not require many European
laborers and companies did not fully
encourage immigration
Jean Talon ‘s Immigration Policies
Engages (hired workers)
– Passage was paid for /
came for 36 months.
Soldiers – land offered to
members of the CarignanSalieres Regiment / 400
remained.
Filles Du Roi – young
orphan girls brought over
due to shortage of women
/ 750-1000 came.
Filles Du Roi
Talon and settlers
Talon ‘s Incentives: “Babies Wanted!”
Encouraged to marry young
(payments given to young
couples).
Fathers fined if daughters not
married by age 17 / men fined
if not married by age 21 (not
permitted to take part in fur
trade).
Family allowances provided for
large families (bigger the
family, the bigger the pay
back!).
Talon’s Results
 Natural Increase (number of births minus
number of deaths).
 Between 1663-1760, New France’s population
increased from 3,000 to 70,000 due mainly to
natural increase (high birth rate). Young couples
having many babies.
* By 1760, 13 Colonies (English) along N.A.
Atlantic Coast had over 1,500,000 people as a
result of both immigration and high natural
increase / birth rate.
ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION IN THE
17TH & 18TH CENTURIES
Lower Quebec City - Market
Do Not Forget…
 New France began as a commercial colony
controlled by Fur Trading Companies who had a
monopoly over the fur trade and who also governed
the French colony.
 This changed in 1660, when New France became a
“royal province” under Louis XIV of France. The
French Crown now controlled the colony through a
governor, intendant, and bishop.
 Intendants, Jean Talon (1665-68 & 1670-72) and
Gilles Hocquart (1731-1748), attempted to broaden
the economy to have a colony based on settlements,
agriculture, and industries.
Intendant Jean Talon (1665-68 & 1670-72)
Improved Farming:
- Granted more seigneuries and encouraged
immigration.
- Brought horses, sheep, and cattle from France.
- Commercial Crops – flax for linen; hemp for ropes;
barley and hops for beer.
Attempted To Create Industries:
- Used forest land for timber in shipbuilding and barrel
making.
- Hat making from fur pelts (textile).
- Tannery making leather for shoes (textile).
- Pitch and tar production used in ship building.
- Brewing company.
Intendant Jean Talon (1665-68 & 1670-72)
Encouraged Trade
Introduced TRIANGULAR TRADE.
1. The colony of New France would ship furs,
timber, wheat, and fish.
2.
Caribbean colonies (e.g. Martinique) would
supply rum, molasses, sugar, tabacco and
coffee.
3.
France, in turn, would supply textiles, and
manufactured (finished) goods.
Talon’s Industries Failed due to:
 Local markets (in New France) not large enough to
support industries.
 Labour and transportation costs made “canadien”
products uncompetitive on French market.
 Textile industries failed because N.F. population
preferred wool from France.
 Brewing company failed because people preferred wine
and brandy from France.
Negative Influences Holding Back Economic
Activity in New France
 France’s belief in mercantilism (did not want colony to
produce finished goods – competed for same market.
 Lack of skilled workers (artisans preferred to stay in
France).
 No capital (lack of money to invest in projects).
 Difficulty finding global markets and exporting goods
except for furs.
Bottom Line
New France never attained a strong and
prosperous economy, and had difficulty
truly being self-supporting. The colony
depended on finished goods and financial
support from France.