The People of New France (Themes in Canadian History)

This book surveys the social history of New France. For more than a century, until the British conquest of 1759-60, France held sway over a major portion of the North American continent. In this vast territory several unique colonial societies emerged, societies which in many respects mirrored ancien regime France, but which also incorporated a major Aboriginal component. Whereas earlier works in this field presented pre-conquest Canada as completely white and Catholic, The People of New France looks closely at other members of society as well: black slaves, English captives and Christian Iroquois of the mission villages near Montreal. The artisans and soldiers, the merchants, nobles, and priests who congregated in the towns of Montreal and Quebec are the subject of one chapter. Another chapter examines the special situation of French regime women under a legal system that recognized wives as equal owners of all family property. The author extends his analysis to French settlements around the Great Lakes and down the Mississippi Valley, and to Acadia and Ile Royale. Greer's book, addressed to undergraduate students and general readers, provides a deeper understanding of how people lived their lives in these vanished Old-Regime societies. This Book Surveys The Social History of New France. For More Than A century, until the British conquest of 1759-60, France held sway over a major portion of the North American continent. In this vast territory several unique colonial societies emerged, societies that in many respects mirrored ancien regime France, but that also incorporated a major Aboriginal component.Whereas earlier works in this field presented pre-conquest Canada as completely white and Catholic, The People of New France looks closely at other members of society as well: black slaves, English captives and Christian Iroquois of the mission villages near Montreal. The artisans and soldiers, the merchants, nobles, and priests who congregated in the towns of Montreal and Quebec are the subject of one chapter. Another chapter examines the special situation of French regime women under a legal system that recognized wives as equal owners of all family property. The author extends his analysis to French settlements around the Great Lakes and down the Mississippi Valley, and to Acadia and Ile Royale.Greer's book, addressed to undergraduate students and general readers, provides a deeper understanding of how people lived their lives in these vanished Old-Regime societies. This Book Surveys The Social History Of New France. For More Than A Century, Until The British Conquest Of 1759-60, France Held Sway Over A Major Portion Of The North American Continent. In This Vast Territory Several Unique Colonial Societies Emerged, Societies Which In Many Respects Mirrored Ancien Regime France, But Also Incorporated A Major Aboriginal Component. Whereas Earlier Works In This Field Represented Pre-conquest Canada As Entirely White And Catholic, The People Of New France Looks Closely At Other Members Of The Society As Well, Including Black Slaves, English Captives, And The Christian Iroquois Of The Mission Villages Near Montreal. The Author Extends His Analysis To French Settlements Around The Great Lakes And Down The Mississippi Valley, And To Acadia And Ile Royale. Greer's Book, Addressed To Undergraduate Students And General Readers, Provides A Deeper Understanding Of How People Lived Their Lives In New France.--jacket. 1. Population -- 2. Life On The Land -- 3. Urban Landscape -- 4. Women Of New France -- 5. French And Others -- 6. Beyond Canada -- Epilogue: The Fall Of New France. Allan Greer. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [123]-127) And Index. "This book surveys the social history of New France. For more than a century, until the British conquest of 1759-60, France held sway over a major portion of the North American continent. In this vast territory several unique colonial societies emerged, societies which in many respects mirrored ancien regime France, but also incorporated a major Aboriginal component." "Whereas earlier works in this field represented pre-Conquest Canada as entirely white and Catholic, The People of New France looks closely at other members of the society as well, including black slaves, English captives, and the Christian Iroquois of the mission villages near Montreal. The author extends his analysis to French settlements around the Great Lakes and down the Mississippi Valley, and to Acadia and Ile Royale." "Greer's book, addressed to undergraduate students and general readers, provides a deeper understanding of how people lived their lives in New France."--BOOK JACKET MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict CONTENTS 8 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 10 Introduction 14 1 Population 22 2 Life on the Land 38 3 The Urban Landscape 54 4 Women of New France 71 5 French and Others 87 6 Beyond Canada 103 Epilogue: The Fall of New France 120 SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY 134 INDEX 140