Develop a paper on the above topic with proper introduction, a body with several and coherent subheadings and a proper conclusion
The writing guidelines are on the attached
The Impact of the French on Native Societies
Introduction
It is indisputable that the majority of European countries formed the largest portion of active colonial masters within the era of ancient exploration. Powerful nations such as France, Spain and even Britain developed a high interested for the inhabitation of new territories where they could easily benefit from the natural resources and other raw materials. It should be noted that prior to the invasion of most European countries in foreign nations, native tribes had already migrated from other locations and become a part of the local community. Canada is one such country where the native or aboriginal ethnic communities had settled within this country in different parts of the land.
It was until the French invaded Canada that they made the discovery of the numerous native societies that had occupied vast proportions of geographical territories. Indians, the Huron and even the Jesuits were some of the common native communities that were present in Canada. The same applies even to other countries such as America were native citizens such as the Hindus, Hispanics, Latinos and even the Jews settled much earlier in this western country. The common denominator with this indigenous tribes is the fact that most of them were highly qualified in unskilled labor. They were either farmers, hunters, fishermen or gatherers that relied on these activities for their livelihood. It is for this reason that the French believed that they could exploit this abilities to their own advantage. The arrival of the French also meant that they had a significant transformation in the lifestyles of the majority of these tribes. This paper is a detailed essay that discusses the impact the French had on the majority of native societies.
Task for the Essay
Prepare a coherent and comprehensive essay that discusses the impact of the French on the native societies.
Body of the Essay
- The French Settlement And Claiming Of Foreign Lands
It is agreeable that the entrance of a foreign community into a new area is bound to bring in visible changes to the local citizens. The same case it true for the French and other colonialists whose arrival into certain countries came with a huge revolution in terms of how people lived and interacted with one another[1]. Specifically, the arrival of the French in most native societies brought a lot of ramifications for them such that it impacted on their culture and traditional beliefs. This invasion of this European nation took place between the sixteenth and seventeenth century and the effects they had were conspicuous within the societal constructs of gender, religion, equality and even class[2].
The colonial people from France initially settled in parts of Canada and the northern part of America and immediately took interest in the presence of the native tribes. They realized that the latter were very different from the local citizens since their ways of life revolved around farming and agriculture. The French studied the indigenous communities and learnt that they were excellent farmers and fishermen that relied on cultivated crops and domesticated animals for their continued survival[3]. It was at this point that this European settlers realized that they could benefit from the native tribes if they formed an amicable alliance.
Hence, instead of competing with them for land, they settled in a different part of the country and began to engage with the aboriginal people on a seasonal occasion. The establishment of strong and robust trading ties was advantageous to both sides since the French discovered that they could benefit a lot from the sale of fur that was shaved from the animals of the natives[4]. On the other hand, the natives also benefited from the purchasing or exchange of cooking pots, weapons, horses and even the close relationships that they had formed. What’s more, the fact that both communities lived within close proximity with one another means that the French could occasionally get time to be taught how to hunt for the good fur animals.
It was in this process that the French began to lean the languages spoken by the indigenous people and in due time, they were able to relate freely with one another[5]. The settlement of the French in Canada was a peaceful process due to the fact that they did not displace the native tribes that they found living in the area. For example, the France colonial masters that arrived in Canada and settled in Quebec respected the aboriginals and even worked closely with them so that they could understand the fur trade business. Further, they showed a lot of respect to them such that they had a high sense of regard for their ways of life, their practices and social norms.
It was this appreciation that led the natives to see that the French were actually good people and they began to treat them as their friends[6]. In fact, apart from associating together in the fur trade and other businesses, intermarriages also began to take place between the French and the aboriginals. It was this close and mutual alliance between both groups that saw them profit from many ventures and also grow significantly in terms of skill acquisition and mastery of various trade activities. The second part of this essay explores the impacts that the French people had on the native communities and tribes.
- Impacts Of The French On Native Tribes And Societies
The prosperity of the fur trade and its subsequent expansion into other countries is perhaps one of the obvious impacts that the French brought on the native tribes. Their entry into countries such as America and Canada saw them begin to exhibit interest in the sale of fur, considering the fact that their continent was quite cold during winter seasons[7]. The French realized that the native communities happened to be highly skilled in the fur business and they were experts in trapping these animals. Hence, they formed an alliance with them such that they could collect this fur in the winter and cold season and then use them to manufacture coats. What’s more, the fur trade business opened up additional positive impacts with one of them being intermarriages[8].
The process of learning about the ways of life of the indigenous societies saw the French marry from their tribes on several occasions. This angle of trade was quite different as it showed the native communities that this European people were more concerned with their lives and not just their expertise. In fact, the close alliance and mutual respect that existed between the natives and the French is highly admired and praised since it clearly demonstrated that colonial masters can actually get along with their subjects[9]. Apart from the trading business, the native societies from both Canada and even North America began to get dependent on the goods that they received from the people of France.
Firearms and ammunition had the highest level of demand because it allowed the indigenous people to hunt for their food and furry animals as well. Further, these riffles were also advantageous since they doubled up was weapons of warfare. The native people got to replace them with their inferior arrows and bows which meant that they enhanced the level of safety in their environment[10]. Additionally, the native tribes also got to learn about French food items and how they were prepared. For example, the Indians bought a lot of chicken, bananas, potatoes, pumpkins and tobacco from the French. Within a short span of time, the diet of the native societies improved and became much healthier and nutritious since there was a greater variety in the choice of what to eat. In terms of communal living, the native societies began to change the design of their homes and the idea of land ownership[11].
This strategy was meant to incorporate the French into their fold and continue to live with them in a harmonious and peaceful manner. In return, the French taught the indigenous communities how to build homes that would be more adaptable to the immediate environment. The use of materials that were readily available in the environment proved to be very instrumental to the natives and cost effective as well. Further, the impact of the French on most aboriginal communities touched on matters of religion and spirituality. At one point, the French wanted to convert the Indians and other settlers to Christianity. This move led to the creation of a lot of resistance such that the native people saw it as an infringement on the right to worship[12]. Additionally, the settlement of the French among the native people saw a huge shift in the languages that were spoken.
The fact that the people from France intermarried with indigenous tribes means that they got to teach them how to speak their language. This led to the spread of the French dialect within the native community and it slowly became a medium of communication. Presently, there are some Canadian provinces that have a high number of French speakers and within other parts of North America, French is considered the predominant language alongside English[13].
The impact of the French on the lives of the native societies was also evident in matters of gender roles and family. The colonizers from Europe had an open mind in matters of marriage and they allowed their women to take up positions in leadership.
However, when they arrived and settled among the aboriginals, they realized that their societies were highly patriarchal and the men were the sole custodians of power and authority[14]. Hence, the French tried to change this mindset and teach the men that they could still remain respectful and submissive even if they hold an influential position. This type of transformation was not very well received by most native tribes such as the Jesuits and the Iroquois people in the same way that they had resisted religion. It was until much later that they slowly continued to adapt themselves and become acquainted with the ways of the French and they began to see gender roles in a much different light[15]. It is indisputable that the arrival and subsequent settlement of the French among the native societies brought immense change that had a positive impact in their lives and of their successive generations.
Conclusion
The exploration of the French in foreign territories led to the discovery of a vital piece of information that would later lead to the creation of very rich history and heritage. This European colonizers mingled within a number of countries where they interacted with people from native communities. It was after some time that they realized that the formation of a close union and alliance would be more beneficial as opposed to trying and oppress them.
The impact that the French had on indigenous tribes is evident in terms of trade, socialization, spirituality and even matters of gender. The farming culture of most aboriginals led to the thriving of the fur trade where the French bought the fur and shipped it to Europe. Likewise, the process of living amidst the native people saw a lot of intermarriages take place and it is through this practice that a close-knit relationship was formed between the two groups. The native tribes also benefited a lot from the purchasing of firearms and ammunition which were used as hunting gear as well as weapons for warfare. The arrival of the French from Europe into most foreign lands brought more gains that helped in transforming the lives of the native societies for the better.
Bibliography
Anderson, K. 1985. Commodity Exchange and Subordination. Montagnais-Naskapi And Huron Women.1600-1650. Signs, Volume 11. No1. 48-62.
Badie, Bertrand. 1989. “The impact of the French Revolution on Muslim societies: evidence and ambiguities.” International Social Science Journal 41, no. 119: 5. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed October 29, 2016).
Bruce, G.T. 1986. Natives And Newcomers: Canada’s Heroic Age. Reconsidered. Montreal McGill Queen’s University Press.
Bruce, G.T. 1987. Children of Aatentsic. History of the Huron people to 1660. Montreal and McGill Queen’s University Press.
Greer, A.2005. Mohawk Saint Catherine Tekawitha And The Jesuits. Toronto Oxford University Press.
Greer, Allan. 1986. The people of New France. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 974.Trigger, Bruce G. Natives and Newcomers: Canada’s Heroic Age. Reconsidered. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press.
Parkman, Francis, 2008. The Jesuits in North America in the Seventeenth Century: France and England in North America, Vol II. Fairford: Echo Library, 2008.
Sider, Gerald. 2006. “The Walls Came Tumbling Up: The Production of Culture, Class and Native American Societies.” Australian Journal Of Anthropology 17, no. 3: 276- 290. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed October 29, 2016).
Jones, Kristine L. 2006. “Resilient Cultures: America’s Native Peoples Confront European Colonization, 1500-1800.” Hispanic American Historical Review 86, no. 2: 350- 351. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed October 29, 2016).
Rushford, B. 2003. A Little Flesh We Offer You. The Origins Of The Indian Slavery In New France. William and Mary quarterly volume 60. 777-808.
[1] Bruce, G.T. 1986. Natives And Newcomers: Canada’s Heroic Age. Reconsidered
[2] Anderson, K. 1985. Commodity Exchange And Subordination. Montagnais-Naskapi And Huron Women.
[3] Greer, A.2005. Mohawk Saint Catherine Tekawitha And The Jesuits. Toronto Oxford University Press.
[4] Rushford, B. 2003. A Little Flesh We Offer You. The Origins Of The Indian Slavery In New France.
[5] Bruce, G.T. 1987. Children of Aatentsic. History of the Huron people to 1660. Montreal and McGill Queen’s University Press.
[6] Anderson, K. 1985. Commodity Exchange And Subordination. Montagnais-Naskapi And Huron
[7] Badie, Bertrand. 1989. “The impact of the French Revolution on Muslim societies: evidence and ambiguities.” International Social Science Journal 41, no. 119: 5.
[8] Greer, Allan. 1986. The people of New France. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 974.Trigger, Bruce G. Natives and Newcomers: Canada’s Heroic Age.
[9] Parkman, Francis, 2008. The Jesuits in North America in the Seventeenth Century: France and England in North America, Vol II. Fairford:
[10] Sider, Gerald. 2006. “The Walls Came Tumbling Up: The Production of Culture, Class and Native American Societies.” Australian Journal Of Anthropology 17, no. 3: 276- 290.
[11] Jones, Kristine L. 2006. “Resilient Cultures: America’s Native Peoples Confront European Colonization, 1500-1800.” Hispanic American Historical Review 86.
[12] Parkman, Francis, 2008. The Jesuits in North America in the Seventeenth Century: France and England in North America, Vol II. Fairford:
[13] Jones, Kristine L. 2006. “Resilient Cultures: America’s Native Peoples Confront European Colonization, 1500-1800.” Hispanic American Historical Review 86.
[14] Badie, Bertrand. 1989. “The impact of the French Revolution on Muslim societies: evidence and ambiguities.” International Social Science Journal 41, no. 119: 5
[15] Rushford, B. 2003. A Little Flesh We Offer You. The Origins Of The Indian Slavery In New France.
