American_Fur_Company

American Fur Company The American Fur Company created the first American monopoly on fur trade in the states. German immigrant John Jacob Astor founded the company in 1808. Astor sought to compete in the northwest with the various Canadian companies that had thrived in the region. He had ordered an expedition by Lewis and Clark to explore the unknown territory of what is now known as Louisiana. After the expedition it was indicated that this land was richer in beaver and otter than anywhere on earth, and Astor was determined to claim the findings to himself. After approaching the legislature of New York and promising his company would deal honestly with Indians and drive out irresponsible traders the American Fur Company was born. In 1816 congress passed a laws forbidding foreigners from trading furs in astor, fur, trade, indians, company, out, beaver, american, unbelievably, trading, posts, monopoly, gunpowder, furs, expedition, canadian, bought, after, york, years, very, various, unknown, traders, thrived, thanks, territory, territories, tactics, success, states, sought, skins, skin, shrewd, several