FREE ESSAY ON LIFE IN NEW FRANCE

LIFE IN NEW FRANCE

Essay: Life in New France
The St. Lawerence was the largest river and most important river in New France. There
were three cities in New France Quebec, Montreal, and Trois Riveriers. People depended on
rivers and lakes for transportation. In warm weather they traveled by canoe, larger
boats, or on rafts with sails. In wintertime they traveled by horse and sleigh on the
frozen rivers. The French brought their customs and culture to New France and it became
the way of life. All the land was owned by the king but was given to the seigneur to
divide and give to the habitants. The seigneur would build a large house for him but he
had to supply the habitants with church and a mill so the habitants could grind grain
into flour. The habitants did not own the land but they were allowed to stay as long as
they paid their dues.
The people of New France had to produce their own food. The people of New France ate lots
o meat from farm animals and also wild animals. They also grew trees that bare fruit.
Most of their meals had milk or cheese. Their favorite foods were pies tourtiere and the
wild game pie.
In the early days in New France clothing was made from animal hides or from woven linen
or hemp. Linen and hump came from plants that grew in New France. It was lined with
leather or fur for warmth. Later on the habitants started to raise sheep. So the woman
spun the wool to make clothes for them. Wool was very warm. They wore caps or bonnets on
their heads. The cap was made with wool. Men wore leather breeches and leather jackets.
The men and woman would ware moccasins to keep their feet warm. Children wore the same
line of clothing like adults. 
The houses in New France usually had stone foundations. Houses in the 1600's were
square-cut timbers. A cement-like substance called mortar filled spaces of the house. A
house built in the 1700's often had walls of stone. It sometimes was covered with pine
boards. The houses had only one room and an attic for sleeping. They would paint their
furniture with homemade paint. They had a fireplace that gave heat and light.The seigneur
house was usually larger.