Fu Trade In Colonial America

533 Words2 Pages

The colonial-era fur trade was a major component of the economy of early America and its overall development. North American Pelts and hides were in high demand and extremely valuable in Europe, where wearing fur provided warmth and social prestige. And for the Native Americans the use of European weapons, utensils, materials and other goods in exchange for furs were of great value as well. Cultural exchanges were increased and produced offspring used as intermediaries for networking and trade. Although fairly equal in societal benefit’s for both Native Americans and Europeans in the beginning, the Colonial American would later become the dominate society because of the fur trades. With the increasing market for fur trades expanding throughout the Eurasian countries, several European nations swarmed the coastline from Oregon to Alaska on the West and from Montreal to Florida on the East (Calloway, 2012). Swedes, Dutch, French, British, Spaniards, Russians, Colonial and Native Americans all participated in the pelt trade and established trade posts all over the country (Calloway, 2012). …show more content…

Increasing fur trade also increased imported commercial goods for Colonial Americans in European houseware, food, weapons, tools, clothing, and houseware’s which expanded localized markets. The increased access to European accommodations increased economy, enhancing living standards, population growth, slavery and attracting more European entrepreneurs. With the expansion of fur trades more into native country colonists began marrying and living with the native peoples creating kinship networks of Native Americans, and provided the rest of the Colonial Americans with access to the Native societies (Calloway,

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