Influence Of Fur Trade On American Culture

Over time, the power that Native women held with in their tribe has unfortunately digressed. During the age of exploration Native women have played key roles in the western fur trade. Native women assisted the fur traders by being liaison between the Europeans and Natives. This role was fundamental in strengthening trade increasing the economic stability of the post. They acted as guides for the European traders who often found themselves in dangerous and unfamiliar territory. Finally, they provided an intimate relationship for the European traders, and played a pragmatic role as a domesticated wife. However in order to fully understand the magnitude of the

The fur traders learned skills such as the language and the customs of the people whom their wives' derived from. If a woman, for instance, from a group of Aboriginal Peoples married a trader, she frequently acted as a peacemaker and interpreter among her own people as well as the traders. The women tried to help their husbands have conversations and communicate well with Aboriginal Peoples. And this improved their overall trading relationship.

One complicated issue of the American Fur Company reign was its impact on the expansion of the United States westward. It strongly influenced the history of the west, not only making way for permanent settlements but by also opening the Great Lakes commercial fishing, steamboat transportation, and trade in that area (Stokesbury). But was the benefit derived from this westward expansion justified by the "extraction" that took place against its stakeholders or those it affected? Is injustice every justified?

According to Peggy Baker, of the Pilgrim Hall Museum, the fur trade between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans began sometime around 1625. The Pilgrims were in enormous debt with investors in Europe and needed money to repay this debt. They knew that one of the best ways to make the money was through fur trade and they knew the best furs to trade were beaver furs. However, the beavers were in Maine with the American Indians. Hence, the Pilgrims began the fur trade with the Native Americans. The Native Americans would hunt the beaver and trade the fur with Europeans for goods such as grain, cooking pots, tools, clothing, and blankets. As the fur trade continued throughout America, the impact on the Native Americans began.

Railroads were faster and cheaper than canals to construct, and they did not freeze over in the winter. Steamboats played a vital role in the United States economy as well. They stimulated the agricultural economy of the west by providing better access to markets at a lower cost. Farmers quickly bought land near navigable rivers, because they could ship their products out to other countries. Due to the foreign trade it helped strengthen the trade relationship between New England and the Northwest. The transportation development had many positive economic changes in the United States.

The fur trade was a significant part of Canadian history. With the founding of the Hudson's Bay and Northwest Company during the1670's, the fur trade managed growth and development all the way into Western Canada until 1870. The fur trade was unique, for it was the only industry that was based on an exchange of goods between two very different groups of people (namely, the Indians and the Europeans). Although most people think of the fur trade as being a male dominated industry, Indian women also played very important roles in the industry's development. However, the women's experiences differed in relation to

Business growth on both sides of the country was expedited by a new form of cheap distribution into profitable, expanding markets. Easy transportation facilitated the concept of business travel and expansion on an unprecedented scale. However, some of the largest impacts of the Transcontinental Railroad can be seen through the cross­country exchange of ideas. Before the railroad existed, the only fast exchange of information was written through the pony express. The Transcontinental Railroad created an outlet of communicating new ideas and information in person. A smooth and swift cross­country exchange of people and ideas not only made America more infrastructurally sophisticated ­­ it acted as a foundation for the Western United States to grow from very little to the political, social, economic, and technological center that it is today.

Native Americans easily engaged in trade with Europeans. They wished to include new glass and metal items in their society. European and Native Americans viewed trade as a means for economic development. Native Americans viewed trade, also, as a way for communicating with individuals and maintaining interdependence. This is evident in the elaborate gift giving celebrations that occurred before exchanging of goods occurred. For Europeans, however, these social and spiritual functions of trade were limited a great deal more.

The British were interested in the production and circulation of fur as a commodity in the world market and were in need of labor. The Indians were the only available source of skilled labor, so they became part of the production process.

Westward Expansion had the biggest impact on the economy and there were several positive outcomes as a result of Manifest Destiny. First, Westward Expansion led to the creation of many new technologies including steamboats, canals and the transcontinental railroads. Steamboats

European came to the new world of North America and they brought out advanced technology and culture to American continent. Over time, their lives changed as they adapted to different environments and they brought tremendous changed to American Indian tribes. New trade goods became another big change that European explorers and colonists brought to American Indians. Indians was trying to use these product that the explorers provided in their daily lives. Soon, American Indian men put away their bows and arrows for European firearms and lead shot. The desire to get European goods changed ancient trading patterns and American Indians began depended on European items for daily needs. The new goods brought from European totally changed Native American

The Lewis and Clark expedition had many beneficial economic effects on the arising American country. The newly charted territory began the great Western expansion of the American people. The first to travel to the West were the fur traders. The American Fur trade was described as, "a distinct and necessary phase in the growth of this new country" (Legends of America). The fur trading became a booming business and attracted the attention of many American civilians. The West was seen as a new

Since Washington has the closest port to Asia, Governor Stevens realized this and promoted the idea of trading with Asia through the railroad and Washington (H). This caused a big economic effect on Washington because most of the trade with Asia would go through Washington which creates jobs and is overall better for the economy. Also, “goods produced on farms, ranches and mines could be cheaply shipped to coveted eastern markets… The demand for products on both sides of the continent created new jobs throughout the west” (I). When both markets connect via the railroads, then both economies benefit from the business created from it. Then, refrigerated cars were able to transport beer without it spoiling. This created a need for hops, apples, and other fruits and grains which the Yakima Valley soon fulfilled (O). The need for hops, apples, and other fruits and grains created many jobs which also boosted the economy. Lastly, the West functioned mostly on bartering, and most kids would get handed down clothing, but for the first time ever families ordered from the Sears catalog and their order would come within a few days (Q). Since there was so many people wanting to buy stuff from Sears the demand for items coming on railroads helped the economy

It is clear from the abstract of the article that Native women played an important role in evolving the fur trade as well as women’s involvement expanded. The author beings by setting a frame of reference, referring to Richard White’s interpretation of the evolution of fur trade, which he labeled the “middle ground”. Which provided a good basis for Sleeper-Smith to integrate her stance of how the native women influenced the evolution of fur trade in their role as cultural mediators. The term “cultural mediators” is seldom used, despite it being mentioned as part of the abstract. However, “mediators” on its own is used throughout the article to describe to role and influence of native women. In regards to the use of “cultural mediators” at the

Also as a result of the Fur trade, the beaver population depleted, Indian trappers became debilitated, tribal cultures buckled under the pressure of new economic motives, tools and values. Consequently, since production fell within an area, the traders moved and settlers moved in developing farms and towns. The Indians in that area were either killed or moved by the government.