1701 An important peace treaty is signed between the Iroquois, the French and forty other Native nations, including the James Bay Cree, the Great Lakes Sioux, and the Abenaki of New England. Through this so-called "Grand Settlement of 1701" ("Grande Paix de 1701"), the French Crown intends to end its military struggle with the Iroquois of New York. Until then, the Iroquois had disrupted French trade and settlement in the Montreal region. The alliances established by the French are intended to limit British expansion and thus protect French trade interests in the Great Lakes and beyond. Also in that year, Antoine Laumet de Lamothe, sieur de Cadillac, along with Henri de Tonti, and 100 men, founds a small fort and trading post called Fort de Ponchartrain du Détroit (Detroit, Michigan). This post serves as a way of securing French trading routes and of providing Indians with trade goods. Seven years later, its population would increase to 300 people. MAP

1713 The Treaty of Utrecht forces France to abandon its claims in the region exploited by the HBC (Rupert's Land). MAP

1717 This date marks a new period in the French fur trade. Markets for beaver improve and the trade expands again. Also, the types of furs become more varied as deer, marten, moose, seal, and lynx increasingly join the exported beaver pelts.

1726 The eldest son of Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, Sieur de La Vérendrye, Jacques René, takes command of the Postes du Nord around Lake Superior. MAP

1730 The Fox Indians are nearly exterminated by the French and their Indian allies. The French trade routes in the Illinois and Ohio Valley reopen.

1731 With 50 men, Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, Sieur de La Vérendrye, leaves Montreal and reaches Fort Kaministiquia along Lake Superior. This locality would eventually be used by the North West Company (NWC) as a major trading depot.

1732 François Bissot de Vincennes founds the present-day town of Vincennes, Indiana. Initially, it is a fortified post called "le poste" intended to protect French trade routes in the area and provide supplies to voyageurs.

1737 Pierre Gaulthier de la Vérendrye builds a fort on the present-day site of Winnipeg (Manitoba), the first European post on the Canadian Prairies. MAP

1740 As the Montreal-based trade expands further into the west, an increasing amount of capital is required and a number of larger trading partnerships are formed.

1742-3 The Vérendryes' paddle to the Lower Saskatchewan and the Missouri rivers, and south on the Mississippi to New Orleans. After building Fort La Reine, they set out on an expedition which takes them to the Mandan Indians of the Missouri River. MAP, La Vérendrye, Mandan Indians

1749 Louis-Joseph de la Vérendrye paddles west on the river he called Pascoyac, later Saskatchewan. At this time, he is quite sure he is on a water course leading to the Western Sea.