Canada’s History

Indigenous Population

• Original inhabitants of Canada came from Asia about 12,000 years ago across the Bering Land Bridge– Bering Land Bridge connected

present-day Siberia and Alaska

• The First Nations– As they migrated to Canada,

they divided into 12 major language groups.

• Primary group = Inuit

• Inuit:– Indigenous people of northern Canada

– About 1% of Canada’s population

– Have adapted to live in a harsh environment

• Build igloos• Hunt Arctic animals

– Walrus and Caribou

– Well-known for their hunting skills and art

• 1999 – Nunavut territory created– “Our Land” created for the Inuit

– Most live in the territory of Nunavut – Arctic region

• Given this land to help maintain their culture – more control over their land.

European Colonization• First explorers to

Canada were Norse invaders – eventually abandoned their settlement

• European arrival

– John Cabot = Canada’s east coast – 1497

• Italian

• Looking for a sea route to Asia

• Returned with reports of large supplies of fish and massive forests.

– Jacques Cartier = St. Lawrence River – 1534

• French

New France• Cartier claimed Canada for France

– French colonists named the colony New France

• Quebec = 1st permanent settlement – Samuel de Champlain

founded settlement in 1608

– Est. along the St. Lawrence River - 1600’s• Colonists moved inland to begin fur trapping

– Impacted the native populations» Traded and interacted with the natives» Natives died from European diseases = no immunity

• Fur traders were soon joined by merchants, farmers and the Catholic church

• New France grew to include most of eastern Canada and the central USA

British Canada

• Great Britain colonized the region directly south of New France (modern day New York)

• 1670 – started the Hudson’s Bay Company– Controlled the fur trade in western Canada

– 3 main objectives of Hudson’s Bay Company

• Find a western passage to the Pacific• Acquire land around the Hudson Bay• Regulate the fur trade

Impact of the Fur Trade• High demand in Europe for furs

• People of the First Nations were eager to trade with the Europeans– Allowed them to have access to new tools and types of foods

• Fur trade brought additional colonists to Canada

• French and Indian War

– Great Britain saw the potential wealth of the fur trade in New France.

• Started the French and Indian War

– Fought over the fur trade industry and control of Canadian territory.

– Disputed land claims also sparked the French and Indian War

Results of the French and Indian War

• Treaty of Paris ended the war (GB won)– G. Britain = all land east of the Mississippi River

except of Newfoundland

– Forced the French out of Nova Scotia• Cajuns moved to the French colony of Louisiana

– Allowed the French to stay in Quebec• Culture started to change when Americans who

opposed the American Revolution moved to Quebec

– Now spoke English and French in Quebec

Division in Canada

• American Revolution impacted the political structure and social structure of Canada.

– American loyalists (loyal to the British crown) moved to the province of Nova Scotia and Quebec.

• Province = political division in Canada

– Similar to a state in the USA

• Quebec Act = 1774– Gave French Canadians the right to

continue to practice Catholicism and allowed French civil law.

– Under French law, the Loyalists couldn’t own land or have government representation.

• Differences caused problems between these two groups.

• Resulted in a re-division of the country.

– Upper Canada

» British, Protestant, Lived in the cities

– Lower Canada

» French, Catholic, Mostly Farmers

• 1837 = Canadians began to rebel against British control– British were concerned about losing this colony just after losing control

of the American colonies

• 1841 = Great Britain decided it was economically beneficial to unite Upper and Lower Canada

Canadian Independence• 1867 = British North American Act of 1867

– Political leaders created an agreement that established a confederation (union) of the colonies which formed the Dominion of Canada

• Canadians asked Parliament if they could create a constitution allowing for increased self-government.

– Some Canadians feared the USA would invade parts of Canada in search of new lands.

– Great Britain approved this union because it took away their responsibility of protecting the colonists.

• Still under the control of Great Britain– Allowed to have their own parliament and prime minister– Not allowed to make treaties with other countries– Had to be a part of the British military

• Created 4 provinces– Ontario = formerly Upper Canada– Quebec = formerly Lower Canada– Nova Scotia and New Brunswick

– Benefits of the new union• Allowed each region to trade more easily with each other =

more $• Expansion to the west – bought land from the Hudson’s Bay

Company

• Built a railroad across the country east to west– Created a sense of nationalism– Made travel easier– Improved the shipment of furs

• Provided additional safety

Impact of World War I• British Canadians felt a strong tie to Great Britain

– Fought for the British during the war– Contributed food, raw material and soldiers to the war movement.

• French Canadians not happy with Canada’s involvement.– Many French Canadians thought themselves to be French and not

Canadian.– Didn’t like the strong ties Canada still had with the British– Felt the rest of Canada didn’t care about their feelings

• Began to develop the idea that Quebec should become its own country.

• Canadians in general felt they should have more control of their own foreign affairs

Official Independence• 1931 = Canada officially gains their independence from

Great Britain

– Joins the Commonwealth of Nations• The Commonwealth is not a political union• Organization where countries with diverse social,

political and economic backgrounds are regarded as equal in status.

• Many of the member countries were once part of the British Empire.

Canada Act of 1982

• Canada’s government became officially independent from Great Britain - 1982– Ended last legal tie with Great

Britain

– This was a peaceful transition.

• Charter of Rights and Freedoms added to constitution – Similar to USA Bill of Rights

Quebec Independence Movement• 1960’s

– Many French Canadians had become Quebec nationalists = “Quebecois”

• Felt they should be able to govern themselves as a single nation

– Quiet Revolution

• Term given to describe the many changes taking place in Quebec, similar to a revolution . . . just quiet.

– Felt their language and culture may disappear

• Cities encroached on their farm lands

• Moved to cities to find work – stopped going to church

• Weren’t able to lead traditional lives

– Many began to think Quebec should secede

• 1980 and 1995 voted on whether or not to secede• Both votes favored staying a part of Canada

– 1995 vote was VERY close– 49.4% secede vs. 50.6% stay

Let’s Work Things Out• Canadian government wanted to work things out with Quebec.

– Contributed greatly to the economy.• High-tech industries• Abundant natural resources• Shipping industry along the St. Lawrence River

– Government also feared that a new country in the middle of Canada would disrupt the rail, road and water routes that connect the nation.

• 1988 - Canadian Multicultural Act – Guaranteed all Canadians the right to preserve

their cultural heritage

– Canada is also officially bilingual• Ability to speak two languages

• 1998 – Canadian Supreme Court ruled that Quebec couldn’t secede without the rest of the country’s approval.

Culture & Its Impact on Modern Canada

• Quebec– French is the official language– 90% speak French– Catholicism is the dominate religion

– Francophones• French speaking Quebecers

– Anglophones• English speaking Quebecers

• Island of French culture and language in Canada – tried to preserve their ethnic identity.

• Didn’t want to be absorbed into Canadian society.

– Many Francophones wanted to become an independent country (separatists).

• The Rest of Canada– 2/3’s of the remainder of

Canadians speak English

– Major religion – Protestantism from the English settlers

– Once the English took control of Canada . . . The English language spread throughout Canada.

– French and English are both the official languages of Canada