The Founding of Quebec and New France

The greatest accomplishment of Champlain’s that forever imprinted into French-Canadian society was his founding of a trading post that became Quebec City, and marked the beginning of New France. It was on his third voyage to the New World, in 1608, that he was ordered to form a settlement along the St Lawrence River. This was to be used as a headquarters to protect the interest of the fur trade.  The location he chose for this was “Kebecq”, which known as Quebec City today. The colony he formed consisted of a warehouse and three small buildings that served as New France for about twenty five years, and was the first official French colony in Canada.

Saving New France from the King

Keeping this colony as part of the French empire wasn’t easy. About eleven years after Champlain established this colony as the beginning of New France, in 1619, the King of France was ready rid of this colony from the French empire. King Louis was preparing to sell the colony to the fur company, due to him not receiving enough profits from the fur trade.  It was up to Champlain to convince him otherwise, and save this colony. He pleaded to the king, and told him of the advantages of having New France as a part of the French empire.  Champlain spoke about how his colony could connect France to America, and how it was only at it's beginning of something greater, stating that "A country must grow like a man. New France is in its childhood," . He pointed out how it would benefit France greatly by establishing a fully functioning colony, which would bring them far more profits than just a trading post owned by a fur company. He gave this speech many times to the King and others in France, with much debate and disagreeing from the King and his council, but eventually he was informed that he had gained the King’s support, and New France would remain a part of Frances vast empire.

"A country must grow like a man. New France is in its childhood," Samuel de Champlain. 

The Province it Became

The King almost rid of what was New France from the French people, but Champlain fought to preserve that. That colony that he fought for became Quebec City, and expanded into New France which played a huge part in the power struggle of who would rule over Canada. Even long after the French lost it to the British, it remains the Province of Quebec, a place with a rich history that maintains French Canadian culture as a part of Canada. Without Champlain, French roots may have been lost in Canada, but because of him, they remain one of Canada’s three founders, and will forever be a part of Canadian identity. Without him, Canada’s roots, history, and identity could be completely different, without the French as a part of our history and modern society.