History of Canada

European Colonization through Canadian

Independence

Political Map of Canada Today

How the land was divided up back then

The First Europeans in Canada

• Spanish • Interested in gold• Settled in SW USA, Mexico, Florida,

and South America

The First Europeans in Canada (continued)

• British• Interested in land• 1497 – John Cabot founded

Newfoundland• Also settled along eastern coast of

US – 13 colonies

The First Europeans in Canada (continued)

• French• Interested in fur and fur trade• 1534 – Jacques Cartier – 1st to St.

Lawrence River and claimed it for France

• 1608 – Samuel de Champlain – established first colony in Quebec

French/British Conflict-caused by fur trade

• French – Catholic• Treaty of Utrecht

gave them South of the Hudson Bay and the St. Lawrence region

• British – Protestant

• Treaty of Utrecht gave them Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Hudson Bay Territory

Canada’s Coat of Arms

Seven Years War – 1754(French and Indian War)

British won because:1. More colonies2. Greater military help3. Indians helped British (Iroquois –

strongest tribe in east)

Important Dates

• 1759 – Battle of Quebec – British took Quebec• 1763 – Treaty of Paris – Britain got complete control of

Canada• As a result, some French left for France, some stayed

but resisted British culture• At first, British wouldn’t let French vote of hold office• The first two British governors wanted French

cooperation, so they gave in.• 1774 – Quebec Act – Quebec and Ontario – French

allowed to keep their Catholic religion, French language, and French culture

Great Britain’s Problem

• Around the same time, the Revolutionary War was going on in the US.

• Some Americans remained loyal to the British and moved to Canada, but they didn’t like the French influence.

Great Britain’s Solution

• Divided the land into two colonies:1. Upper – British – Ontario2. Lower – French – remained

in Quebec• War of 1812 – French and British

worked together against the US who tried to invade Canada

After the War of 1812

• French Canadians and British Canadians hated British rule

• They felt that Great Britain was too far away to understand their needs.

• So…1837 – Louis Papineau organized a revolt to establish Quebec as a separate country

• Result of revolt: British easily defeated Papineau

Road to Canadian Independence

• Britain sends Earl of Durham• Canadians want:

1. more control over government2. All Provinces to unite

• G.B. only wanted Quebec and Ontario to unite. All provinces together could create a successful rebellion

British/North American Act

• July 1, 1867Results:1. Canada was still subject to British rule2. Canada had their own central

government3. Now they could solve their own

problems4. Happened without a war

Canada – A Nation

• People moved west to the plains region and established successful farms

• 1886 – Transcontinental Railroad• 1896 – found gold and minerals in

Yukon Territory• Canada was on its way to wealth and

importance

Canada’s Flag

20th Century Problems

• WWII – built factories for war supplies (clothes, shoes, etc.)

• Immigrants poured in from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean

20th Century Problems

• Industrialization brought old conflicts:1. British wanted factories in Quebec, French didn’t

2. 1976 – French were tired of being part of Canada – wanted independence

3. 1982 – new constitution – in response to French wanting a bilingual country – two official languages: French and English

4. Canadian government modeled after British parliament – constitutional monarchy

Symbols of Canada

Bilingual Canada