What challenges did Jacques Cartier face on his first voyage?
There were many obstacles and difficulties during these explorations, as Cartier lost some of his men during his voyages, and also lost settlers to Indian attacks. The harsh winter season was another factor that hindered some attempts by Cartier to further explore the new lands.
What was the outcome of Jacques Cartier's voyages?
French mariner Jacques Cartier was the first European to navigate the St. Lawrence River, and his explorations of the river and the Atlantic coast of Canada, on three expeditions from 1534 to 1542, laid the basis for later French claims to North America. Cartier is also credited with naming Canada.
What was the reason for Jacques Cartier's voyage?
Jacques Cartier Sails Upriver. French navigator Jacques Cartier sailed into the St. Lawrence River for the first time on June 9, 1534. Commissioned by King Francis I of France to explore the northern lands in search of gold, spices, and a northern passage to Asia, Cartier's voyages underlay France's claims to Canada.
What was Jacques Cartier main journey?
Jacques Cartier was the first European to describe and map the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the shores of the Saint Lawrence River, which he named "The Country of Canadas" after the Iroquoian names for the two big settlements he saw at Stadacona (Quebec City) and at Hochelaga (Montreal Island).
What was Jacques Cartier's first voyage ship?
Cartier and his men left France on May 19, 1535. Cartier had three ships – La Grande Hermine, La Petite Hermine, and L'Emerillon. The expedition reached Funk Island off of Newfoundland's coast. On September 7, 1535, Cartier and his men reached the site of the present day city of Quebec.
Who named Canada?
According to the Government of Canada website, the name “Canada” likely comes from the Huron-Iroquois word “kanata,” meaning “village” or “settlement.” In 1535, two Aboriginal youths told French explorer Jacques Cartier about the route to kanata; they were actually referring to the village of Stadacona, the site of the ...
Who was the first explorer to reach Canada?
Frenchman Jacques Cartier was the first European to navigate the great entrance to Canada, the Saint Lawrence River. In 1534, in a voyage conducted with great competence, Cartier explored the Gulf of St. Lawrence and claimed its shores for the French crown.
What happened to Jacques Cartier's crew?
The severe North American winter shocked Cartier's crew, who had expected mild temperatures since Quebec was further south in latitude than Paris. Cartier lost 25 men to scurvy and, when the climate improved, he hastily headed back to France.
Did Cartier find fools gold?
Much to Cartier's humiliation, the specialists discovered that the “gold” was nothing more than pyrite (also known as “fool's gold”), an almost worthless mineral. The “diamonds” were found to be nothing more than common quartz crystals.
How long was the journey to New France by ship?
The crossing took more than three months. With the exception of one little girl, all the Iroquois died in France. Cartier admitted the death of Donnacona, but claimed that the others “had remained in France where they were living as great lords; they had married and had no desire to return to their country”.
Who explored Canada?
Exploration of Canada by Europeans began with the Norse in the late 10th century on the country's East Coast. Following Jacques Cartier's arrival in 1534, over the course of the next three centuries British and French explorers gradually moved further west.
How long did it take the French to sail to Canada?
The Crossing In 1665, it took New France's new Intendant, Jean Talon, 117 days to reach Québec; in 1678, the Arc-en-ciel made the trip in 35 days. Taking into account the requirements of the navigational season, it was better to set sail from France before May 1 and from Québec before the end of September.
How many voyages did Jacques Cartier make?
Jacques Cartier made three voyages to Canada. On April 20, 1534, accompanied by approximately 60 sailors who were to handle two ships of about 60 tonnes each, Cartier set sail from Saint-Malo. Crossing the Atlantic went smoothly; after 20 days, he entered the Strait of Belle Isle.
Why did Cartier not travel further inland?
After hunting along the north shore of this island, he finally found a passage, but was unable to travel further inland on account of strong winds and opposing tides. As winter was not far off, Cartier and his men decided to head the two ships back to France.
Where did Cartier meet the Amerindians?
A storm drove him into the bay of Gaspé, where he met more than 300 people from Stadacona (Québec), who had come there to fish. Two Amerindians who were relatives (sons) of the chief Donnacona were made to embark on Cartier's ship; they accompanied the explorer on the remainder of his exploration.
When did Jacques Cartier first travel?
Cartier's First Voyage. After John Cabot's 1497 voyage to North America, it wasn't until 1534 and Jacques Cartier that a major expedition was sent out to the northern part of of North America.
What was Cartier searching for?
Cartier was in new territory now, searching for a waterway that he presumed would deliver him to Asia , but he could barely penetrate Northern America's eastern coast. Cartier -- shown in profile in one portrait, as hawk-nosed, dressed as a nobleman, almost scowling -- had a poor opinion of the new land.
Who was the artist who hoped Cartier would find gold?
Artist: Theophile Hamel , National Archives of Canada C-11226. The King hoped Cartier would find a new passage to the Orient, by a route around or through the North American continent. If that proved unsuccessful, at least he might find gold, as the Spanish had in South America.
How many men did Jacques Cartier have on his second voyage?
Jacques Cartier set sail for a second voyage on May 19 of the following year with three ships, 110 men, and his two Iroquoian captives. Reaching the St. Lawrence, he sailed upriver for the first time, and reached the Iroquoian capital of Stadacona, where Chief Donnacona ruled.
When did Cartier first sail?
First voyage, 1534. In 1534, two years after the Duchy of Brittany was formally united with France in the Edict of Union, Cartier was introduced to King Francis I by Jean Le Veneur, bishop of Saint-Malo and abbot of Mont Saint-Michel, at the Manoir de Brion.
Why did Francis order Jacques Cartier to return to Canada?
On October 17, 1540, Francis ordered the navigator Jacques Cartier to return to Canada to lend weight to a colonization project of which he would be "captain general". However, January 15, 1541, saw Cartier supplanted by Jean-François de La Rocque de Roberval, a Huguenot courtier and friend of the king named as the first lieutenant general of French Canada. Roberval was to lead the expedition, with Cartier as his chief navigator. While Roberval waited for artillery and supplies, he gave permission to Cartier to sail on ahead with his ships.
What did Le Veneur say about the voyages of the Veneur?
Le Veneur cited voyages to Newfoundland and Brazil as proof of Cartier's ability to "lead ships to the discovery of new lands in the New World". On April 20, 1534, Cartier set sail under a commission from the king, hoping to discover a western passage to the wealthy markets of Asia.
What river did Cartier go to?
Having reached Hochelaga, he was prevented by bad weather and the numerous rapids from continuing up to the Ottawa River . Returning to Charlesbourg-Royal, Cartier found the situation ominous.
How did Cartier die?
He died at age 65 on September 1, 1557, during an epidemic, possibly of typhus, though many sources list his cause of death as unknown. Cartier is interred in Saint-Malo Cathedral .
When did Cartier return to Stadacona?
After spending two days among the people of Hochelaga, Cartier returned to Stadacona on October 11. It is not known exactly when he decided to spend the winter of 1535–1536 in Stadacona, and it was by then too late to return to France.
What did Cartier want from the Natives?
It was quite obvious to Cartier that the Natives had had some previous dealings with Europeans. They were interested in trading and wanted knives and hatchets. However, the only thing they had to trade back was animal furs which, although accepted, were not of any great value in Europe.
What was Cartier forced to do after being blocked by fog?
Iroquoian Chief Donnacona. After having been blocked by dense fog in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Cartier was forced to turn back eastward toward Cape Breton Island. As they passed the Baie de Gaspé, a group of Natives was sighted on shore and, by their demeanour and hand signs, Cartier felt there was little danger.
Why was Cartier commissioned to search for gold?
He had been commissioned by King François of France to search for a passage to Cathay(the Orient), either around or through the New World. If no route could be found, then Cartier was to seek out riches, especially gold, as the Spanish had found in South America.
Who were Cartier's sons?
During the voyage back to France in 1534, Cartier learned from the 2 Native sons, Dom Agaya and Taignoagny, who he'd kidnapped from Iroquoian Chief Donnacona, that their father's village of Stadacona(present-day Quebec) was called a 'kanata'.
Overview
First voyage (1534)
In 1534, two years after the Duchy of Brittany was formally united with France in the Edict of Union, Cartier was introduced to King Francis I by Jean Le Veneur, bishop of Saint-Malo and abbot of Mont Saint-Michel, at the Manoir de Brion. The King had previously invited (although not formally commissioned) the Florentine explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano to explore the eastern coast of North America …
Early life
Jacques Cartier was born in 1491 in Saint-Malo, the port on the north-east coast of Brittany. Cartier, who was a respectable mariner, improved his social status in 1520 by marrying Mary Catherine des Granches, member of a leading aristocratic family. His good name in Saint-Malo is recognized by its frequent appearance in baptismal registers as godfather or witness.
Second voyage (1535–1536)
Jacques Cartier set sail for a second voyage on May 19 of the following year with three ships, 110 men, and his two Iroquoian captives. Reaching the St. Lawrence, he sailed upriver for the first time, and reached the Iroquoian capital of Stadacona, where Chief Donnacona ruled.
Cartier left his main ships in a harbour close to Stadacona, and used his small…
Third voyage (1541–1542)
On October 17, 1540, Francis ordered the navigator Jacques Cartier to return to Canada to lend weight to a colonization project of which he would be "captain general". However, January 15, 1541, saw Cartier supplanted by Jean-François de La Rocque de Roberval, a Huguenot courtier and friend of the king named as the first lieutenant general of French Canada. Roberval was to lead the expediti…
Later life
Cartier spent the rest of his life in Saint-Malo and his nearby estate, where he often was useful as an interpreter in Portuguese. He died at age 65 on September 1, 1557, during an epidemic, possibly of typhus, though many sources list his cause of death as unknown. Cartier is interred in Saint-Malo Cathedral.
No permanent European settlements were made in Canada before 1605, when Samuel Champlain
Legacy
Having already located the entrance to the St. Lawrence on his first voyage, he now opened up the greatest waterway for the European penetration of North America. He produced an intelligent estimate of the resources of Canada, both natural and human, albeit with a considerable exaggeration of its mineral wealth. While some of his actions toward the St. Lawrence Iroquoians were di…
Rediscovery of Cartier's first colony
On August 18, 2006, Quebec Premier Jean Charest announced that Canadian archaeologists had discovered the precise location of Cartier's lost first colony of Charlesbourg-Royal. The colony was built at the confluence of the Rivière du Cap Rouge with the St. Lawrence River and is based on the discovery of burnt wooden timber remains that have been dated to the mid-16th century, and a fr…