History of Quebec and Canada

History of Quebec and Canada November, 2009

The Habs Letter

Your task:

Imagine that you are a young man or woman, recently married, living in New France in the 17th or 18th century. You receive a letter from a friend or family member, telling you that they are considering immigrating to New France as well.

Write a letter to your family or a friend back home in France describing your life as a censitaire (habitant). Be sure to be very detailed in your description (AVOID LISTING, do NOT just copy from the book, but let the letter flow realistically).

Discuss

·  your living conditions

·  the weather

·  people

·  day to day life on a seigneurie

·  hardships, fears and fun

·  the rights and duties to your seigneur

Remember, a young man and a young woman might have very different experiences… are you an ex-fur-trader turned farmer? A regular censitaire? A Fille du Roi?

Put yourself in the person’s shoes – based on your research, what did it feel like to live as a settler in Quebec at this time? Describe all you see and experience, and your feelings about this new world. Use the five senses. Be VERY CREATVE.

PLEASE INCLUDE A DRAWING OF WHAT YOU SEE AND DESCRIBE IN YOUR LETTER.

Length: 250 – 500 words

Drawing: in black and white or in colour… should contain good detail.

Due:

Resources:

Panoramas Textbook A

p.76-77, 84-85, 96-97

Canada: A people’s history (film viewed in class)