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Have you ever wondered how Canada was found, and who found it? The answer is, Jacques Cartier (1491-1557). Jacques Cartier was an explorer that sailed for France. He made three voyages in total, to Newfound land (nowadays Canada), each of them with a different story and a different purpose. His voyages include finding goods, attempts of colonization, making friends with Indians, finding rivers, and mountains that are now very famous. For example, did you know Jacques Cartier found Mont Real (nowadays Montreal) and the St. Lawrence River?
Jacques Cartier was born in St. Malo, just one year before Christopher Columbus’s discovery of America, which had a great impact on the other European countries. More countries were eager to explore the great mass of unknown, undiscovered land. Of course, France was one of the countries that were looking for goods and wealth. Cartier knew a lot about the sea since he grew up in an area where fishing and sailing was common. Not only that, Cartier was a good sailor and leader, so King Francis I gave Cartier permission to make an expedition to the New World. The king also supported Cartier’s expedition by giving money, food, ships, and men for the voyage.
In 1534, King Francis I sent Cartier to the New World to search for gold and precious metals. On April 20, he took two ships and 61 men and set out on his first voyage to Newfoundland. He discovered many islands, which he all named for France, and found a bay, which he named ‘Chaleur Bay’. From there, he met the Micmac Indians, and shot canons over their heads to show their power. Soon, the Indians started giving animals pelts, to show a sign of friendship. Cartier gave the Indians knives and other gifts in return.
His voyage continued, and he met the Iroquoians. Although this tribe did not speak the language like the other natives, Jacques quickly became friends with them by giving them cheap goods like combs and bells. On July 24, Cartier planted a wooden cross with French writing and shouted “long live the King the France!”, and declared the Gaspe Peninsula for King Francis. Instead of fighting and trying to conquer the Indians, Cartier persuaded them, offering them to board his ship, gave them French clothes, made feasts for them, and made them dizzy with wine. He also persuaded Chief Donnacona to let him take his two sons to France, and promised to bring them back after a year. The reason why Cartier wanted to bring the two sons to France was because he wanted to impress the king with the ‘savages’. Also, he wanted the two sons to learn French, which would help him in his explorations of the New World (Newfoundland). The two sons told Jacques that his father’s village of Stadacona was called a ‘kanata’, now known as Canada.
Cartier wanted to return to the New World, if he could have the king’s permission and support. Admiral Philippe de Brion-Chabot, a companion of King Francis I was a big influence for asking the king for the second voyage of Cartier. King Francis I also wanted to carry out the “Great Commission” by spreading Christianity. It was during the rise of the Protestantism in France, and the King could trust on Cartier, who was also a Catholic.
On the second voyage, Cartier sailed on three boats, the ‘L’Emerillon’, ‘La Grande Hermine’, and ‘La Petite Hermine’. He sailed with more than 100 men. However, the voyage which took them about 3 to 4 weeks the last time took nearly 2 months this time due to the horrible weather and the storms. Cartier, who was on his way searching for the village of Stadacona, found the St. Lawrence River, his most significant discovery. Cartier went on to search for the village of Hochelaga after hearing the chief’s two sons’ description of the village, but Chief Donnacona tried to discourage Cartier and his two sons from going westwards unless Cartier left hostages. The natives told scary stories, about the dangers and the ‘devils’.
Jacques Cartier and his men went on, without the native guides. In 1535, they found the Iroquoian village of Hochelaga. The natives were happy to meet Cartier and had feasts arranged. They introduced him to tobacco, and he introduced them to Christianity, which the natives easily accepted. Before he left, he climbed Mont Real (Mount Royal/Montreal) and thought the view and the defensibility would make an ideal spot for settlement. However, he could also see the impassable rapids at Lachine and was disappointed.
Jacques Cartier wanted to go back to the New World for the third time, however it was difficult. France was soon going to have a war with Spain, which would leave the king with no money, men or ships for Cartier’s third voyage for a long time. Unfortunately, Admiral Brion-Chabot had lost favor in the king’s court, so it was more difficult for Jacques to convince the king. Thinking that he will not be making a third trip to the New World, Cartier took a ship to the Atlantic Ocean and became a privateer. For four years he captured enemy ships and continued fishing.
In October 1540, the king gave Cartier permission to make his third voyage to Newfoundland. However, this time, instead of being the leader of the expedition, Cartier was named captain-general under Jean-Francois de la Rocque (Sieur de Roberval). In May 23, 1541 Cartier took off with 5 boats, two years supply of food, livestock, and priests for converting the Native Americans to Christianity. Roberval sailed one year later after Cartier, because he was not ready to sail. Cartier settled down at a place called Cap Rouge, and built two forts instead of settling down with the Iroquoians. He called this settlement the ‘Charlesbourg Royal’. Cartier decided it was not a good idea to stay with the Iroquoians, because they were still mad at Cartier for kidnapping ten natives and Chief Donnacona during the second voyage. Cartier started hearing rumors that some of the native groups gathered together and were planning to attack Cartier. In the end, the natives did not make a big attack, but they did have small raids almost every day. More than 30 of Cartier’s men died during the raids.
On 1541, a deadly disease roamed around the forts, and the weather became horribly cold. Cartier felt like he had had enough, and he left with his men in June 1542. Then, as they were sailing to get back, they met Roberval’s ships. Roberval ordered Cartier to return, despite Cartier’s protests. In the end, Cartier disobeyed Roberval’s order and sailed away with his ships at night.
Jacques Cartier’s discovery helped France’s vision of North America, and his expedition helped other explorers that came after him. France thought that the value of North America was only fisheries. But Jacques reported that North America’s grassland was good for the cattle, fertile lands, excellent fishing, hunting, and thick forests with good wood. Jacques also brought home a supply of maize (corn) on his return voyage. This was probably the first of that crop to reach Europe. Although Jacques Cartier did not find gold (but found iron pyrite, fool’s gold) or other precious stones, he did find natural resources, which was also a great, valuable discovery. For example, animal skins were traded even after Cartier’s discovery in Newfoundland, which was very valuable in Europe.
After King Francis I, French leaders did not want to send sailors on costly expeditions to the New World. However, the sailors and fishermen developed one of the real sources of wealth in the New World by catching schools of cod, and trading animal fur in the Grand Banks. Later on after Jacques Cartier’s discovery, the French government decided to send expeditions to colonize eastern Canada. Canada was colonized, and became known as ‘New France.’
Jacques Cartier’s discovery is very important to our current world because he founded Canada itself. Canada takes a very important role in our world in many ways. It is important geographically because Canada has a large territory, economically, because Canada sells its natural resources and other goods throughout the world. Especially for the Canadians it was a very important discovery. It is because of Jacques Cartier that there is a city named ‘Montreal’ or a river named St. Lawrence, and the country named ‘Canada’. His discoveries are very important for the history of the Canadians.
Jacques Cartier’s discovery led to many other expeditions which also affect our world today. For example, another famous French explorer called Samuel Champlain set out after Jacques Cartier’s expedition to colonize Canada . In the end, New France was born, which had a big impact on Canada with history, language, and culture.
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