Blog #4

The Native American peoples who hunted, trapped, process, and transported fur products had various benefits at the beginning. For example, the Hurons exchanged approximately 20,000 to 30,000 pelts mostly beaver, to receive copper pots, metal axes, knives, cloth, firearms, and alcohol. Because these items were valuable, it strengthened the Hurons relationship with neighboring peoples. These goods also enhanced the Huron chiefs by providing them with gifts to distribute among their followers. The fur trade protected the Native Americans from the extermination, enslavement, and displacement.

Although they were only protected for a certain amount of time, they were not protected from the diseases that the Europeans carried. About half of the Hurons perished influenza, smallpox, and other European-borne diseases. Furthermore, the fur trade generated warfare.

Even thought the Native Americans became enmeshed in commercial relationships with the Europeans, they ended up being dependent on European trade goods. Tools such as iron tools and cooking pots replaced those of stone, wood, or bone and gunpowder weapons took place of bows and arrows. European textiles proved more attractive than traditional beaver and deerskin clothing and flint and steel became more effective for starting fires than wooden drills. In the end, traditional crafts were lost because the native peoples were not able to gain corresponding ability to manufacture the new items themselves.