Jean Talon - Weak and Destitute New France

Weak and Destitute New France

Prior to Jean Talon's arrival to the French colony in 1665, the colony, founded by Samuel de Champlain and situated along St. Lawrence River, was in a state of weakness and destitution despite its existence for more than half a century. Its failure in progress had been due to several key factors, including ill governance of the colony by trading companies, forgetfulness on the part of France, and the horrors caused by Indian wars.

The progress of the colony had been stifled by trading companies, because of their narrow-minded mercantile selfishness in governing the colony, valuing profits over the common good and survival of the colonists.

The French minister in charge of New France's affairs back in France was Cardinal Richelieu. At first he was involved in improving the colony's situation through attempts to increase the population of the colony, but he had been unsuccessful. Later on, his attention shifted to European politics, and New France's affairs were left ignored.

For 25 years, the colonists and the Iroquois had been constantly involved in violent aggressions against each other. In New France, no adequate military force existed to extinguish the Iroquois. Other situations added to the degrading of the colony, included internal strife among the leaders in New France over questions of liquor traffic, lack of immigration from France, dying fur trade, and poor agriculture. The colonists of New France, the governor and the bishop petitioned to France for assistance.