How Cartier’s Voyages Were Successful, Why Europeans Were Looking for a Shorter Route to Asia, and How European Fishing Trips on The East Coast Led to The Development of The Fur Trade

Why Each of Cartier’s Voyage Were Important

On April 20, 1534 Jacques Cartier set out on his first voyage, directed by the King of France to find a route through the New World. Twenty days later Cartier documented reaching the coast of Newfoundland, it was a very barren land he compared to the “land God gave to Cain”. The land provided few things that interested him. Cartier continued southwest and discovered Prince Edward Island, which was very fertile and provided many opportunities for Europe. On July 7th, Cartier encountered a fleet of 50 canoes occupied by Aboriginal Peoples. He and his crew exchanged small items with them on good terms and this is the first historically documented trade between Aboriginal Peoples and Europeans. Later Cartier was told the “Lake” he mapped was the Gulf of St. Lawrence, was really just the mouth to a large, inland river. Near the end of his first voyage Cartier visited the Baie des Chaleurs and his crew helped him mapped the shore in detail on small boats, during this time Cartier met an Aboriginal chief named Donnacona and formed a relationship with him, so developed that the chief allowed Cartier to take his two sons back to Europe. The last thing Cartier did before heading back was claim Anticosti Island. He was force to return when his crew was scared by dense fog, something they never experienced before. Cartier and his crew returned to St. Malo on September 5.

His second voyage began May 19 the following year with three ships that accompanied 110 men and Donnacona’s sons. When they reached the St. Lawrence they sailed up the river for the first time and reached the Iroquoian capital Stadacona |(Quebec), where Donnacona was chief. Cartier left his main ships with Donnacona. He then sailed further up the river and visited Hochelga (now Montréal), which was far more impressive than the small, secluded village Donnacona ruled. This is when he discovered the St. Lawrence. Cartier was convinced that following this river further would lead him to the Northwest Passage did travel further however as it was blocked by rapids, these rapids got their name (the Lachine Rapids) deprived from the fact that Cartier thought they were the only thing blocking him from China. At some point Cartier realized he must stay in Hochelaga during the winter so he had his men build a rudimentary fort. All around sickness fell, and his crew’s strength deteriorated. Cartier saw how the Natives were getting better, and learned a secret that would cure scurvy. One of Donnacona’s sons showed them how to make a tea containing Vitamin C, they didn’t know that, but it worked.