What was the purpose of Radisson and Groseillier's trip to Hudson Bay?

• A. To claim land for France
• B. To set up a trading post on Hudson Bay and reduce transportation costs for furs
• C. To establish a university
• D. To negotiate with Indigenous leaders for alliances

Answer: (B)

Radisson and Groseillier were driven by the chance to profit from furs in Hudson Bay. Their plan was to establish a trading post right there so they could exchange goods for furs directly with Indigenous people and ship them back to Europe via shorter routes. That approach would drastically reduce transportation costs and time compared with moving goods from Quebec, making the fur trade far more efficient and profitable. The aim was to create a base of operations to control access to the furs and lower costs, which is why setting up a trading post to reduce transportation expenses is the best description. The other ideas don’t fit the practical goal of that expedition: it wasn’t about claiming land for France, founding a university, or primarily negotiating alliances—it was about enabling a more economical fur trade history by locating a post at Hudson Bay.