North American fur trade

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/north-american-fur-trade

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary commodity?Beaver pelts (Castor canadensis) were the most economically significant
2. What is the key european participants?French, Dutch, English, and Scottish traders and companies
3. Why was beaver fur so valuable?Beaver fur was thick, waterproof, and perfect for making felt hats that were very fashionable in Europe. This made beaver pelts very expensive.
4. How did the fur trade change the environment?Many beavers were hunted until their numbers dropped. Because beavers build dams that create wetlands, the loss of beavers hurt wetlands and the animals that live there.

Keystone Species: A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.
Geopolitical: Relating to politics, especially international relations, as influenced by geographical factors.
Commodity: A raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold.
Colonial Expansion: The process by which a country establishes control over foreign lands and peoples.