A map of New France containing Canada, Louisiana &c. in Nth America

A map of New France containing Canada, Louisiana &c. in Nth America

This map shows the vast territory known as New France in 1712, including parts of what are now known as Quebec, Ontario, and a portion of the United States. It outlines the major cities present in colonial Canada, such as Montreal, which, due to their position near major waterways and trade routes, saw the highest concentration of enslaved Black folks. Due to such a disposition, these people mainly worked in domestic and maritime settings, as opposed to plantations or farms, which were less common than in the rest of the Americas.

By noticing waterways, colonial regions, and hubs of economic activity on such a map, one may see how and why the Canadian system of slavery developed, and observe the geographic dimension of Canadian slavery, showing that these stories took place on ground that we still live on to this day.

Herman Moll

Moll, Herman. A Map of New France Containing Canada, Louisiana &c. in Nth America. 1712. University of British Columbia Library Digital Collections. http://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0023053

Vancouver: University of British Columbia Library

14 September 1712

CC BY-ND

Map