Canadian Social History

Introduction

What’s does the term “feudal” mean?  In its classic sense feudalism was both a military and an economic system, with peasants as serfs to landowners and owing them military as well as economic loyalty. By the seventeenth century, the military aspect of feudalism had disappear, however, the economic aspects thrived in France and were transported to the New World. What this meant is that land was not owned outright but was subject to a series of social and economic regulations. The crown, which owned the land, granted a landholder, or seigneur, a significant tract of land. In return, the seigneur had to find families to farm parts of the land. Habitants had responsibilities to the seigneur, as well as the government, but were protected from arbitrary rent increases. As such, landholding during the French Regime was a complex system of rights and obligations.

Historiography

Francis Parkman, American historian during the nineteenth century, argued that New France was a place where democracy, Protestantism, and farming were thwarted by feudalism.

Cole Harris, a geographer, instead argues that although the seigneurial system’s structure of duties and obligations seemed oppressive, in reality feudalism was irrelevant to the general social and economic development of the colony.

Allan Greer argues that New France society was feudal because the way society was hierarchically structured. The system’s purpose was to pay for society’s superstructure of office holders and gentry.

Theories

Social/political/economic as well as geographical theories to support the evidence about whether New France was feudal.

Controversies

Historians have disagreed over what makes a “feudal” society. Is it rigid and undemocratic? Did New France society actually outgrow “feudalism” and start developing a different type of society? Or did “feudalism” exist to support politico-socio-economic society?

Sources and methods

Historians have looked at the development of farming in New France, and the availability of land. Historians have also analyzed social structure, and the attempts to rise up the social ladder.

Events and incidents

The marriage of Marie-Louise Cruchon – illustrates the complex character of society in New France. The marriage was essentially an alliance that helped both partners survive the pioneering difficulties of New France. It was a marriage rooted in socio-economic survival.

Conclusion

Was New France “feudal”? Yes, and no. Structurally yes. But the peoples of New France began to reshape “Feudal” society into arguably a more capitalist free market ideology based on the need for colonial socio-economic survival.

Francis Parkman was an American historian who lived during the nineteenth century. He viewed democracy, the separation of church and state, and capitalism, including private land ownership, as the essential components of an ideal society. Parkman studied New France, commenting that the society was far from ideal, a place where democracy, Protestantism, an farming were thwarted by feudalism, the Church, and the military.

Although Parkman’s view of New France feudalism has been discounted, his work on feudalism has shaped the historiography on New France.