The Impact of Contact

Relationships of Independence, Interdependence, and Dependence

Key DefinitionsKey Definitions

Independence – Freedom from the control of another authority

Interdependence – The mutual reliance of groups of people on one another

Dependence – Reliance on a group or institution for support

Impact of ContactAboriginal Peoples and the Fur TradeAboriginal Peoples and the Fur Trade

Contact led Contact led Aboriginal peoples Aboriginal peoples from a lifestyle of from a lifestyle of independence to independence to

one of one of interdependence interdependence and finally one of and finally one of

dependencedependence

At first Aboriginal technologies At first Aboriginal technologies (canoes and food preservation) (canoes and food preservation) and knowledge (survival skills and and knowledge (survival skills and navigation) greatly influenced navigation) greatly influenced economic and social interaction economic and social interaction with Europeanswith Europeans

European technologies (guns, European technologies (guns, kettles, and knives) changed the kettles, and knives) changed the manner in which traditional manner in which traditional Aboriginal tasks were performed Aboriginal tasks were performed

Impact of ContactAboriginal Peoples and the Fur TradeAboriginal Peoples and the Fur Trade

Contact led Contact led Aboriginal peoples Aboriginal peoples from a lifestyle of from a lifestyle of independence to independence to

one of one of interdependence interdependence and finally one of and finally one of

dependencedependence

First peoples became more First peoples became more dependent on European dependent on European manufactured goods leading to manufactured goods leading to irreparable social and economic irreparable social and economic disruptions to Aboriginal societydisruptions to Aboriginal society

Conflicts increased between First Conflicts increased between First Nations societies as each sought to Nations societies as each sought to dominate the most fur bearing dominate the most fur bearing regions and monopolize fur traderegions and monopolize fur trade

Impact of ContactImpact of ContactAboriginal Peoples and the Fur TradeAboriginal Peoples and the Fur Trade

Contact led Contact led Aboriginal peoples Aboriginal peoples from a lifestyle of from a lifestyle of independence to independence to

one of one of interdependence interdependence and finally one of and finally one of

dependencedependence

First peoples exhausted fur First peoples exhausted fur supplies and moved to new supplies and moved to new regions displacing other regions displacing other groupsgroups

Traditional economies and Traditional economies and way of life (sustainability) way of life (sustainability) were hampered by depletion were hampered by depletion of animal resourcesof animal resources

Impact of ContactImpact of ContactAboriginal Peoples and the Fur TradeAboriginal Peoples and the Fur Trade

Contact led Contact led Aboriginal peoples Aboriginal peoples from a lifestyle of from a lifestyle of independence to independence to

one of one of interdependence interdependence and finally one of and finally one of

dependencedependence

No immunity to new infectious No immunity to new infectious diseases (smallpox, measles, and diseases (smallpox, measles, and influenza) was disastrous as influenza) was disastrous as populations were decimatedpopulations were decimated

Introduction of alcohol and Introduction of alcohol and subsequent addictions created has subsequent addictions created has devastating and long-term devastating and long-term implications for Aboriginal implications for Aboriginal societiessocieties

Impact of ContactImpact of ContactImpact on EuropeansImpact on Europeans

Europe was Europe was transformed into a transformed into a capitalist society – capitalist society –

a global trading a global trading network controlled network controlled

by European by European powers emerged as powers emerged as the new world orderthe new world order

New foods (corn, potatoes, New foods (corn, potatoes, squash) discovered in squash) discovered in Americas spread throughout Americas spread throughout the worldthe world

Aboriginal peoples taught Aboriginal peoples taught Europeans how to plant and Europeans how to plant and harvest these cropsharvest these crops

Impact of ContactImpact of ContactImpact on EuropeansImpact on Europeans

Europe was Europe was transformed into a transformed into a capitalist society – capitalist society –

a global trading a global trading network controlled network controlled

by European by European powers emerged as powers emerged as the new world orderthe new world order

Potatoes became a staple Potatoes became a staple food in Europe and helped to food in Europe and helped to eliminate famine and improve eliminate famine and improve overall nutritionoverall nutrition

Corn was used to feed Corn was used to feed livestock resulting in healthier livestock resulting in healthier animals and greater supply of animals and greater supply of protein rich foods (milk, eggs, protein rich foods (milk, eggs, cheese, meat) cheese, meat)

Impact of ContactImpact of ContactImpact on EuropeansImpact on Europeans

Europe was Europe was transformed into a transformed into a capitalist society – capitalist society –

a global trading a global trading network controlled network controlled

by European by European powers emerged as powers emerged as the new world orderthe new world order

Smoking became a Smoking became a recreational habit in Europe recreational habit in Europe resulting in high demand for resulting in high demand for tobaccotobacco

Demands for tobacco and Demands for tobacco and sugar cane created the rich sugar cane created the rich plantation economies to plantation economies to thrive in American South and thrive in American South and CaribbeanCaribbean

Impact of ContactImpact of ContactImpact on EuropeansImpact on Europeans

Europe was Europe was transformed into a transformed into a capitalist society – capitalist society –

a global trading a global trading network controlled network controlled

by European by European powers emerged as powers emerged as the new world orderthe new world order

A global economic revolution A global economic revolution turned Europe’s mercantile turned Europe’s mercantile economy upside down from economy upside down from wealth generated from goods wealth generated from goods from colonies from colonies

Old trade routes to Africa and Old trade routes to Africa and Asia were forgotten because Asia were forgotten because of wealth generated from of wealth generated from exploitation of coloniesexploitation of colonies