When Europeans arrived in the New World, that they did not expect to find an abundance of fish and furs. Further, when they discovered that beaver fur was an ideal material for hats, it became one of their most important resources, as the demand for beaver hats rose. Thus, the fur trade was developed, leading the Europeans to come in contact with the First Nations. The First Nations played a large role in the fur trade, as they provided the trade, made relations, and helped to assure their economy and the survival of the European fur traders. The First Nations supplied the furs and were traded with tools, cloth, food, and liquor by the Europeans. As the trade grew, the British and the French competed with each other to form trading relationships