1. The Merger of the HBC and the NWC
Changes at Red River Colony

2. By 1820 both HBC and NWC were suffering financially
Fur resources were declining
Profits were shrinking

4. Merger In 1821, the companies joined together
There were 100 shares in the company
The HBC controlled 45 shares
The NWC controlled 55 shares
The Company was called the Hudson’s Bay Company

5. Benefits Great Britain gave the new company control over Rupert’s Land
It extended the monopoly to west of the Rocky Mountains
The company controlled over half modern Canada

6. HBC Maintains Power
Even though the NWC had more shares in the company the HBC maintained control.
The old HBC trading routes were used because they were cheaper
By 1825, the NWC partners sold their shares back to the HBC

7. Native Peoples
The company reduced the number of its European employees after the merger
They relied on the Native people as:
Guides
Trappers
Translators
Map makers
Canoe builders

8. Native women worked at the post
Gardening
Tending Livestock
Chopping Wood

9. If pemmican was not available the HBC relied on the Native people to provide meat for the posts.

10. A New Boss: George Simpson

11. George Simpson became Governor of the Northwest Department
Dynamic and an experienced manager
Spent 40 years traveling across Rupert’s Land visiting trading posts

12. The Little Emperor Autocratic leader High standards
Arrived at the post without warning

13. Frances Simpson 18 year old wife of George Simpson
Simpson was also married to a native woman in Red River
Simpson’s Red River Family was shipped away from the post before Frances arrived

14. Anti-social Simpson’s
Mrs. Simpson refused to socialize with the Metis wives at the post
The Simpson’s were isolated from the community
It was lonely and George Simpson started writing down all of the faults of his employees in his “character” book

15. The Simpsons left Red River in 1832
They later settled in Montreal
George Simpson died in 1860.