Question

What was the main economic activity of the French settlers in New France.

Answer 1

The main economic activity of the French settlers in New France was fur trading. The French established a lucrative fur trade network, particularly focusing on beaver pelts, which were in high demand in Europe for making fashionable hats. The French settlers, along with Indigenous peoples, engaged in trading furs in exchange for European goods such as metal tools, textiles, and other manufactured items. This fur trade was central to the economy of New France and influenced the relationships between the French settlers and Indigenous groups. Additionally, agriculture played a role, with settlers cultivating crops such as wheat, corn, and tobacco, but fur trading remained the dominant economic activity during the early years of New France.