Phase 4-5 events
The Rocky Mountain House operated during phases 4 to 5 in the Fur trade, but did you know that it stayed up after the Fur trade as well? The Rocky Mountain House was even considered a town in 1939. So lets talk about some other interesting events that occurred when this great post was set up.
Phase 4 of the Fur trade was when New France became a British Colony- 1763 to be exact- turning the whole trade into British Mercantile System, a huge economic switch. When French 'ruled' the trade, they focused more on furs, but when Britain gained control, they focused more on land and farming. This pushed Fur traders and people who had jobs in the trade off the land. In that phase, the North West Company was formed- 1779- to increase chances of gaining domination of the Fur trade, many people included in the trade moved farther, and farther west. Pemmican, a food made for voyagers- a mix of dried meat, fat, and sometimes berries- was created in Phase 4. The Metis also developed a distinct culture in Red River.
Phase 5 was when the glorious trade ended and the British lost interest in the 'competition'. During the beginning of this phase, 1821, the North West Company and the Hudson's Bay Company merged
-because their furious competition, which led to shootings and hostage taking- and got renamed as Hudson's Bay Company. Once this change occurred, and one problem was solved, the Hudson's Bay faced another challenge. Britain lost a court case against independent Métis traders who wanted to trade furs and pemmican with the Americans, and that led to Britain losing their monopoly. Soon after, the trade began to decline in the west and it lost its importance. In 1869 Britain helped the Hudson's Bay Company sell Rupert's Land to Canada.
Phase 4 of the Fur trade was when New France became a British Colony- 1763 to be exact- turning the whole trade into British Mercantile System, a huge economic switch. When French 'ruled' the trade, they focused more on furs, but when Britain gained control, they focused more on land and farming. This pushed Fur traders and people who had jobs in the trade off the land. In that phase, the North West Company was formed- 1779- to increase chances of gaining domination of the Fur trade, many people included in the trade moved farther, and farther west. Pemmican, a food made for voyagers- a mix of dried meat, fat, and sometimes berries- was created in Phase 4. The Metis also developed a distinct culture in Red River.
Phase 5 was when the glorious trade ended and the British lost interest in the 'competition'. During the beginning of this phase, 1821, the North West Company and the Hudson's Bay Company merged
-because their furious competition, which led to shootings and hostage taking- and got renamed as Hudson's Bay Company. Once this change occurred, and one problem was solved, the Hudson's Bay faced another challenge. Britain lost a court case against independent Métis traders who wanted to trade furs and pemmican with the Americans, and that led to Britain losing their monopoly. Soon after, the trade began to decline in the west and it lost its importance. In 1869 Britain helped the Hudson's Bay Company sell Rupert's Land to Canada.