Fur+Trade

One of the first industries in American was between the Europeans and the Native American Indians. Europeans came to the New World in route for gold and silver, instead they settled for fur. The exchanges of manufactured goods provided by the Europeans were traded for fur and meat provided by the Indians. The Europeans would provide manufactured goods such as cooking supplies, weapons, blankets, alcohol, iron, and silver. This allowed the Indians to live more modernly with supplies they could not produce.

 The fur trade was one way for the Europeans to make alliances with the Indians to enter their land. European men were also known for marrying Native or mixed women to better the alliances and relationships they had between trades. The women in this scenario would make clothing and shoes, gather supplies such as wood for the camp, cleaning, and cooking.

 One known way to ship the goods traded was to send the goods down the river. Mainly the goods would come down the Missouri or Mississippi Rivers. In Saint Louis, the Fort Madison trading post was built along the River which allowed the Europeans and Indians to safely trade the goods with some regulation. The goods would come mainly from Iowa which at the time was Spaniard land known for fur trading, but today Iowa is now known for agriculture.

 To regulate the trading of goods between the Europeans and Natives there were a few Acts created by the American government. The Intercourse Act of July 23, 1790 was created to license the Indians and Europeans to trade with each other. This act allowed the Indians to feel protected from outsiders coming on to their Native land. The act also protected the safety of the Europeans from being attacked when they entered on the Native land. Although there was laws about trading, there were still illegal trade taking place by people who were not licensed.

 Fur trading got its’ start when French fisherman along the Great Lakes cames in contact with the Native Americans. They made alliances with the Indians and started trading fish for fur. Many companies were created to hold their traded goods. The Hudson’s Bay Company, North West Fur Company, Missouri Fur Company, and American Fur Company were all main companies of the fur trade.

 The trading of fur was not always a positive experience. Many diseases, mainly smallpox, were transmitted between the Europeans and Indians. The Natives decreasing population resulted in relocation of tribes. Fur Trade also created conflicts that lead to war over land.

 Various animals could be skinned to get many different textures of fur. The water-repellent fur from otters and seals became a popular fashion trend for China and Europe. Beaver was the most common fur because it was rapidly available. When the beaver population decreased, this created the Indians to relocate and find new animals to skin. Fox and Minx were known to make hats, gloves, muffs, and other trendy clothing for the Europeans.

 The fur trade was a way to make a living for the Indians and it allowed the Europeans to gain respect and enter the land of the Natives. It also allowed both the Indians and Europeans to profit from the goods traded, allowing revenue and goods that cannot be produced easily. Fur trade made it possible for Europeans and Indians to make alliances and gain a respect for each others’ culture.

//**ANNOTATIONS:**//

"Fur Trading: A Native Iowan Industry « Iowa Pathways." //Iowa Public Television//. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <[]>. Native Americans had many purposes for trading fur including clothing, shelter, storage for food, and to make money. In exchange for fur between the Indians and Europeans, the Indians would gain weapons, alcohol, blankets, iron, silver, and cooking utensils.

Vanderstel, David G. "Native Americans in Indiana: Resistance and Removal." //Http://www.connerprairie.org/Learn-And-Do/Indiana-History/America-1800-1860/Native-Americans-In-America.aspx//. Web. 14 Apr. 2011.// In the Indian Trade section of this writing, it states that any person who traded with the Indians had to be licensed due to the Intercourse Act of July 23, 1790. Although there was an act for fur trading, there were still people who did not follow the written rules of the encounters with the Indians. Trading posts allowed Indians and Europeans to trade in a regulated area.

//"IFTF | About the Fur Trade | Fur Trade Heritage." //International Fur Trade Federation (IFTF) for Fur Fashion, Fur Style//. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <[]>.// The use of fur can be valuable to make hats, gloves, muffs, and for other trendy clothing. These items were commonly made from beaver but can also be made from mink or fox. The Indians provided the fur to make these product and the Europeans manufactured them into these clothing goods.

//"Fur Trade - Ohio History Central - A Product of the Ohio Historical Society." //Ohio History Central - An Online Encyclopedia of Ohio History - Ohio Historical Society//. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <[]>.// Fur Trading was the earliest interaction Europeans and Indians had. Indians transitioned to the lifestyle of the Europeans because the manufactured goods provided through fur trade made Indians live more modernized. The sight displays the pricing for the furs through trade.

//<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"Three Affiliated Tribes - Timeline of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Sahnish, 900-1868." //ND Studies//. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <[]>.// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">Summary of fur trading companies who involved Lewis and Clark, Cartier, Lisa, and Astor. The Hudson’s Bay Company, North West Fur Company, Missouri Fur Company, and American Fur Company were all main companies of the fur trade.

//<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"Mackinac Island, Michigan." //Greetings from Mackinac Island, Michigan//. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <[]>.// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">Mackinac Island is plentiful with rich fishing which drew French and Jesuit traders. Fur Traders would have canoes full of goods shipped to the Island. The American Fur Company headquarters was stationed on the Island storing fur and now fish.

//<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"The Fur Trade - Indian Country Wisconsin - Native American Indians." //Milwaukee Public Museum//. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <[]>.// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">Europeans came over seas in route of gold and silver, unfortunately they were unsuccessful. The French discovered fur, finding it was equally as valuable due to the many uses fur provides. The Europeans would trade the Indians for manufactured goods in exchange for fur.

//<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"Time Line - A Brief History of the Fur Trade." //White Oak Society - Deer River, Minnesota//. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <[]>.// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">In the 1500’s, Europeans traded knives, hatchets, and beads for the Native Indians’ fur and meat. The timeline displays various occurrences in the mid-West and Great Lake region due to trade.

//<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"The Fur Trade (by L. Proyect)." //Columbia University in the City of New York//. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <[|http://www.columbia.edu/~lnp3/mydocs/indian/fur_cuba.htm]>.// //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">An anthropologist wrote a controversial book about fur trade called //Keepers of the Game//. Indians believed their decrease in population was a punishment from their Gods but the decrease was actually through their trading encounters with the Europeans. The Indians thought they could only survive by continuing their trade which is now the same situation happening in Cuba today.//

//<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"American Indians of the Pacific Northwest - - For Teachers (Library of Congress)." //Library of Congress Home//. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <[]>.// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">In the 18th Century, the Europeans came to the New World to claim trade routes and land. Lewis and Clark were instructed by President Thomas Jefferson to explore fur trade with the Indians and also to set up trading posts.

//<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"Early Exploration and the Fur Trade--Pierre and Fort Pierre, South Dakota: A Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary." //National Park Service Discover History: Cultural Resources Home Page//. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <[]>.// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">The trading posts shipped fur robes to St. Louis. Indian encounters with the whites lead them to trade for European manufactured goods. These goods were traded for pelts and buffalo robes provided by the Indians. A con about fur trade was the spread of disease and decreased the native population.

//<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"Forest Service." //US Forest Service - Caring for the Land and Serving People. //Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <[|http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gjAwhwtDDw9_AI8zPyhQoY6BdkOyoCAGixyPg!/?ss=110909]>.// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">French, British, and British-American fur trade from the late 1600’s to the late 1800’s created a decrease in Indian population. The decrease was created by warfare and diseases caught through encounters with the white people during fur trade.

//<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"Indian Fur Trade." //Access Genealogy: A Free Genealogy Resource//. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <[]>.// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">Indians knew the trading posts as civilization of the whites. The Indians migrated when their game traveled due to the limited number of fur-bearing animals. This caused the Indians to explore hunting multiple types of fur-bearing game.

//<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"Women of the Fur Trade 1774-1821." //Northwest Journal//. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <[]>.// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">European traders were known for marrying either a mix-blood or Native woman in the early 1800’s. This allowed the European men to better their relationship with the Indian people and get to understand the culture, language, and information of fur trading. Women were then known for cooking, gathering supplies for the camp, making clothing, and feet coverings.

//<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"The Indian and the Fur Trade." //Iowa GenWeb Project Welcome Page//. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <[]>.// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">When the Spaniards owned the land that we call Iowa today, the Europeans would trade with the Indians and send the fur they received down the Mississippi River into St. Louis. Fort Madison was built strictly for controlling the trading of goods. Later, after 150 years of fur trading, Iowa became known for agriculture.

//<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"The Impact of the Fur Trade on Native Americans « The Scoop on History-APUSH and More." //The Scoop on History-APUSH and More//. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <[]>.// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">Indians needed help surviving; the fur trade made that come easier. Trading fur helped decrease war and increase honor, wealth, and prestige. The trade of fur allowed the Indians to interact with the whites creating business and commercial values.

//<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"The Fur Trade." //Powell County Museum & Arts Foundation Deer Lodge Montana//. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <[]>.// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">Fur trade was started by Indians and Europeans which created one of the earliest industries of North America. The first people to trade with the Indians were fisherman arriving in East Canada in early 1500.

//<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"Fur Trade." //Northwest Power and Conservation Council//. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <[]>.// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">Water-repellent fur came from sea otters and seals, which were valued in China and Europe and traded for tea and spices. Trading created money and goods but also created war between other countries.

//<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">Folks, Jeffrey. "Fannie, Freddie, and Fur." //American Thinker//. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <[]>.// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%;">Furs, Fortune, and Empire //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%;"> book is a reflection of fur trade. The book analyses the role the American government had on the fur trading with the Indians. The government was not knowledgeable of the profit they could be making off the fur trading industry. //

//<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">"Fur Trade." //Encyclopedia of Chicago//. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. <[]>. <span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">The American Fur Company took control of the fur trade after the War of 1812. Kinzie and Deschamps, two men of Chicago, Illinois reported to the headquarters on Mackinac Island, Michigan buying out the competition. Fur trade left Chicago when the population increased.


 * //<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">Created By: //**
 * //<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">Kimberly Witmer //**
 * //<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">American Indian Studies 210: section C //**
 * //<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">Fur Trade //**
 * //<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">April 17, 2011: 11:40p.m. //**