In the 17th-century fur trade, which of the following describes the Haudenosaunee approach to securing trade advantages?

• A. They formed alliances with the French and supported Wendat against the British.
• B. They refused any involvement in European trade.
• C. They leveraged alliances with the British and attacked Wendat to control trade space.
• D. They only traded within their own territories.

Answer: (C)

In this period, power in the fur trade came from a mix of diplomatic leverage and the ability to enforce terms through force. The Haudenosaunee strengthened their position by forming important ties with European traders, especially the British, which gave them access to firearms, goods, and favorable trading terms. They didn’t stay on the sidelines; they used their military strength to disrupt rivals, notably attacking the Wendat, who were allied with the French. By weakening Wendat power and pushing trade into routes and hubs they controlled, the Haudenosaunee could dictate terms and secure a larger share of the fur economy. That combination of forging British alliances and using military action against the Wendat best describes how they secured trade advantages.