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when did english settlement begin in canada

by Claud Botsford Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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In 1610, British explorer Henry Hudson made his way into the inland sea and claimed the area on the bay that now bears his name. Newfoundland was the site of the first English colony and was settled by fishermen who arrived from Devon in 1611 and put down roots in Conception Bay.Sep 24, 2020

When did the first settlers come to Canada?

The remains of their settlement, l’Anse aux Meadows, are a World Heritage site. European exploration began in earnest in 1497 with the expedition of John Cabot, who was the first to draw a map of Canada’s East Coast. New Founde Land for England. English settlement did not begin until 1610

Where do the English settle in Canada?

Proportionately, the most English settlements have been in Newfoundland, British Columbia, the Maritime provinces, and later in Ontario. In Québec, the English are found mainly in enclaves in Montréal ( see Westmount) and the Eastern Townships.

What is the history of the English in Canada?

English Canadians 1 English Explorations. The English were among the first Europeans to reach Canadian shores after the Norse seafarers of the 10th and 11th centuries. 2 Migrant Origins. ... 3 Immigration History. ... 4 Settlement in Canada. ... 5 Canadian Institutions: the English Legacy. ...

What was England's first attempt at organized colonization in Canada?

It was England's first attempt at organized colonization in Canada and the second plantation in North America. Jamestown, Virginia was the first in 1607. In the 17 th century England underwrote plantation, or settlement, of colonists, expecting to profit from their endeavors.

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When did English settlements start in Canada?

1610Cupers Cove, now Cupids, was established by John Guy in 1610 under a royal charter from James I. It was England's first attempt at organized colonization in Canada and the second plantation in North America. Jamestown, Virginia was the first in 1607....Cupids, Newfoundland: Canada's First English Settlement.Published OnlineMarch 26, 2013Last EditedMarch 4, 2015Mar 26, 2013

What is the oldest English settlement in Canada?

Cupids1610: The First English Settlement in Canada Cupids, established in 1610, is the oldest continuously inhabited English settlement in Canada. John Guy established the first-year round settlement at the heart of what was then known as Cuper's Cove.

Who settled in Canada first?

Royal New France In 1604, the first European settlement north of Florida was established by French explorers Pierre de Monts and Samuel de Champlain, first on St. Croix Island (in present-day Maine), then at Port-Royal, in Acadia (present-day Nova Scotia). In 1608 Champlain built a fortress at what is now Québec City.

Who landed in Canada first?

the VikingsThe first Europeans to come to Canada were probably the Vikings, who landed on Baffin Island and along the Atlantic coast (Labrador) in the 10th century. Between 990 and 1050, they founded a small colony on Newfoundland's most northerly point, the site of today's Anse-aux-Meadows, not far from Saint Anthony.

Where did the British live in Canada?

Settlement in Canada Proportionately, the most English settlements have been in Newfoundland, British Columbia, the Maritime provinces, and later in Ontario. In Québec, the English are found mainly in enclaves in Montréal (see Westmount) and the Eastern Townships.

What percentage of the Canadians is of British descent?

In 2016, 32.5% of the Canadian population reported at least one origin from the British Isles, and 13.6% at least one French origin.

When did Canadians stop identifying as British?

In 1946, the federal Parliament enacted the Canadian Citizenship Act, 1946, which created fully independent Canadian citizenship, separate from British law and status as British subjects. That Act came into force on January 1, 1947, and remained in force for thirty years.

How did people of English descent come to Canada?

People of English descent came to Canada either directly from England or indirectly through the American colonies. In the first case, their motives were largely economic. In the early 19th century, many working people in England were unemployed, and among the upper and middle classes, younger sons and discharged officers emigrated because they were unable to keep up appearances at home. In the later period of the settlement of the Prairie West ( see Dominion Lands Policy ), many English immigrants were attracted to Canada by the offer of free land.

Why did English immigrants migrate to Canada?

The motives of those of English descent who emigrated from the US were largely political, for most of them were Loyalists, although it is true that many English-Americans immigrated to Upper Canada and later to the Prairies because of the farming opportunities. Apart from the special connection between Newfoundland and the western counties of Devon and Dorset, no part of England can be singled out as having contributed particularly to the Canadian population; immigrants have come from all parts of the country, and from urban as well as rural areas.

What percentage of Canadians are English?

According to the 2016 Census of Canada, about 18 per cent of the Canadians consider themselves to be of English origin. The English were among the first Europeans to reach Canadian shores. Alongside the French, they were one of two groups who negotiated Confederation.

Why did Abbott become the prime minister of Canada?

Sir John Joseph Caldwell Abbott. Abbott became prime minister mainly because the Conservative Party could not agree on Macdonald's successor.

What was the name of the sea that Henry Hudson explored?

In 1610, Henry Hudson entered the inland sea now called Hudson Bay. In 1670, the founding of the Hudson’s Bay Company brought an influx of English traders and employees, largely recruited from the urban unemployed. These English newcomers were based in the company's forts on the bay and conducted pioneer explorations of the West and the North. These included Henry Kelsey ’s 1690 travels in the Canadian prairies, Anthony Henday ’s exploration of the interior of the Canadian Northwest in 1754 and Samuel Hearne ’s epic journey down the Coppermine River to the Arctic Ocean in 1771–72.

Why did the Canada Company acquire land?

Speculative companies such as the Canada Company acquired large tracts of land on condition that they bring in suitable settlers from England. At the bottom of the scale were the schemes by which poor people, the victims of crop failures and economic recession, were sent to Canada with no money and none of the skills they needed in a pioneer environment.

How many English children were sent to Canada after the Confederation?

There were at least three other significant waves of English immigration after Confederation. Between 1869 and the late 1930s, over 100,000 children were sent to Canada from the British Isles. Orphaned, abandoned and pauper children (the majority of them English) were given free passage to Canada, where they settled and became wards of various communities ( see British Home Children in Canada; Child Migration to Canada ).

Who was the first European to map Canada's east coast?

The remains of their settlement, l’Anse aux Meadows, are a World Heritage site. European exploration began in earnest in 1497 with the expedition of John Cabot, who was the first to draw a map of Canada’s East Coast. John Cabot, an Italian immigrant to England, was the first to map Canada’s Atlantic shore,

Who was the first person to map Canada's Atlantic shore?

John Cabot, an Italian immigrant to England, was the first to map Canada’s Atlantic shore, setting foot on Newfoundland or Cape Breton Island in 1497 and claiming the. New Founde Land for England. English settlement did not begin until 1610.

What was the war of 1812?

The War of 1812: The Fight for Canada. After the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte’s fleet in the Battle of Trafalgar (1805), the Royal Navy ruled the waves. The British Empire, which included Canada, fought to resist Bonaparte’s bid to dominate Europe.

Why is July 1st celebrated as Canada Day?

Until 1982, July 1 was celebrated as “Dominion Day” to commemorate the day that Canada became a self-governing Dominion. Today it is officially known as Canada Day.

What was the Quebec Act?

One of the constitutional foundations of Canada, the Quebec Act accommodated the principles of British institutions to the reality of the province.

When did the Dominion of Canada become a country?

The Fathers of Confederation established. the Dominion of Canada on July 1, 1867, the birth of the country that we know today. [ See larger version ] Dominion of Canada $1 bill, 1923, showing King George V, who assigned Canada’s national colours (white and red) in 1921, the colours of our national flag today.

When did the financial system start in Canada?

The first financial institutions opened in the late 18 th and early 19 th centuries. The Montreal Stock Exchange opened in 1832. For centuries Canada’s economy was based mainly on farming and on exporting natural resources such as fur, fish and timber, transported by roads, lakes, rivers and canals.

When did the French colonize Canada?

From the late 15th century, French and British expeditions explored, colonized, and fought over various places within North America in what constitutes present-day Canada. The colony of New France was claimed in 1534 with permanent settlements beginning in 1608.

What was the first city in Canada?

In 1785, Saint John, New Brunswick became the first incorporated city in what would later become Canada.

How many provinces are there in Canada?

The Patriation of the Constitution in 1982, marked the removal of legal dependence on the British parliament. Canada currently consists of ten provinces and three territories and is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy .

What did the French do to the New World?

French interest in the New World began with Francis I of France, who in 1524 sponsored Giovanni da Verrazzano 's navigation of the region between Florida and Newfound land in hopes of finding a route to the Pacific Ocean. Although the English had laid claims to it in 1497 when John Cabot made landfall somewhere on the North American coast (likely either modern-day Newfoundland or Nova Scotia) and had claimed the land for England on behalf of Henry VII, these claims were not exercised and England did not attempt to create a permanent colony. As for the French, however, Jacques Cartier planted a cross in the Gaspé Peninsula in 1534 and claimed the land in the name of Francis I, creating a region called " Canada " the following summer. Cartier had sailed up the St. Lawrence river as far as the Lachine Rapids, to the spot where Montreal now stands. Permanent settlement attempts by Cartier at Charlesbourg-Royal in 1541, at Sable Island in 1598 by Marquis de La Roche-Mesgouez, and at Tadoussac, Quebec in 1600 by François Gravé Du Pont all eventually failed. Despite these initial failures, French fishing fleets visited the Atlantic coast communities and sailed into the St. Lawrence River, trading and making alliances with First Nations, as well as establishing fishing settlements such as in Percé (1603). As a result of France's claim and activities in the colony of Canada, the name Canada was found on international maps showing the existence of this colony within the St. Lawrence river region.

How long has Canada been inhabited?

Prior to European colonization, the lands encompassing present-day Canada were inhabited for millennia by Indigenous peoples, with distinct trade networks, spiritual beliefs, and styles of social organization. Some of these older civilizations had long faded by the time of the first European arrivals and have been discovered through archeological investigations.

Why is Canada called a dominion?

The term dominion was chosen to indicate Canada's status as a self-governing colony of the British Empire, the first time it was used about a country. With the coming into force of the British North America Act, 1867 (enacted by the British Parliament ), Canada became a federated country in its own right.

When did the Great Lakes form?

Further information: Technological and industrial history of Canada § The Stone Age: Fire (14,000 BC – AD 1600) The Great Lakes are estimated to have been formed at the end of the last glacial period (about 10,000 years ago), when the Laurentide Ice Sheet receded.

When did the Company of New France colonize?

The Company was given full seigneurial ownership of New France. April 27, 1628. Colonization. Oxen in New France. Samuel de Champlain recorded in his journal that, for the first time in New France, land had been “broken by the plough drawn by oxen,” a task typically carried out by human strength. March 01, 1633.

Who took possession of Newfoundland?

Colonization. Gilbert Claims Newfoundland. Sir Humphrey Gilbert took possession of Newfoundland for Elizabeth I. He drowned in a storm on 9 September off Sable Island in Canada's first recorded marine disaster.

What was the name of the island Roberval landed on?

Roberval received a fur-trade monopoly to New France. He landed a party on Sable Island , NS, led by the Marquis de la Roche. Only 11 of the 40 colonists survived to be rescued 5 years later.

How did the colonization of France form the Compagnie des Habitants?

The Compagnie des Habitants was formed in New France when a royal edict transferred the trade monopoly for fur, held by the Compagnie des Cent-Associés, to all inhabitants of the colony. In practice, only a few of the wealthiest benefited from the change.

When did New France become a colony?

King Louis XIV revoked the monopoly of The Compagnie des Cent-Associés and New France became a Crown colony. The king appointed a new governor and an intendant. March 23, 1665 . Colonization.

When did the Jesuits arrive in France?

First Jesuits Arrive in New France. The first Jesuits to arrive in New France, Pierre Biard and Ennemond Massé, arrived at Port-Royal on May 22, 1611. July 01, 1615. Colonization. Champlain Visits Huronia. French explorer Samuel de Champlain reached Huronia, at the southern end of Georgian Bay.

When did Champlain reach Tadoussac?

Samuel de Champlain reached Tadoussac on the north shore of the St Lawrence River and set foot for the first time in New France. January 07, 1608. Colonization.

What is the history of immigration to Canada?

The history of immigration to Canada details the movement of people to modern-day Canada. The modern Canadian legal regime was founded in 1867 but Canada also has legal and cultural continuity with French and British colonies in North America going back to the seventeenth century, and during the colonial era immigration was a major political and economic issue and Britain and France competed to fill their colonies with loyal settlers. Prior to that, the land that now makes up Canada was inhabited by many distinct indigenous nations for thousands of years. Indigenous peoples contributed significantly to the culture and economy of the early European colonies, to which was added several waves of European immigration. More recently, the source of migrants to Canada has shifted away from Europe and towards Asia and Africa. Canada's cultural identity has evolved constantly in tandem with changes in immigration patterns.

Who landed in Canada?

The next European explorer acknowledged as landing in what is now Canada was John Cabot, who landed somewhere on the coast of North America (probably Newfoundland or Cape Breton Island) in 1497 and claimed it for King Henry VII of England. Portuguese and Spanish explorers also visited Canada, but it was the French who first began to explore further inland and set up colonies, beginning with Jacques Cartier in 1534. Under Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons, the first French settlement was made in 1604 in the region of New France known as Acadie on Isle Sainte-Croix (which now belongs to Maine) in the Bay of Fundy. That winter was particularly long and harsh and about half of the settlers that had accompanied Sieur de Mons died of scurvy. The following year they decided to move to a better sheltered area, establishing a new settlement at Port-Royal. In 1608, Samuel de Champlain, established a settlement at Donnacona; it would later grow to become Quebec City. The French claimed Canada as their own and 6,000 settlers arrived, settling along the St. Lawrence River and in the Maritimes. Britain also had a presence in Newfoundland and, with the advent of settlements, claimed the south of Nova Scotia as well as the areas around the Hudson Bay .

How did people migrate to British Columbia?

Until the railway, immigration to British Columbia was either via sea, or – once the gold rushes were under way – via overland travel from California and other parts of the US , as there was no usable route westward beyond the Rockies, and travel on the Prairies and across the Canadian Shield was still water-borne. BC's very small early non-native population was dominantly French-Canadian and Metis fur-company employees, their British (largely Scottish) administrators and bosses, and a population of Kanakas (Hawaiians) in the company's employ, as well as members of various Iroquoian peoples, also in the service of the fur company. The non-local native population of the British Pacific was in the 150–300 range until the advent of the Fraser Gold Rush in 1857, when [ [Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria's population swelled to 30,000 in four weeks and towns of 10,000 and more appeared at hitherto-remote locations on the Mainland, at Yale, Port Douglas, and Lillooet (then called Cayoosh Flat). This wave of settlement was near-entirely from California, and was approximately one-third each American, Chinese and various Europeans and others; nearly all had been in California for many years, including the early Canadians and Maritimers who made the journey north to the new Gold Colony, as British Columbia was often called.

How often are censuses taken in Canada?

Statistics Canada has tabulated the effect of immigration on population growth in Canada from 1851 to 2001. On average, censuses are taken every 10 years, which is how Canadian censuses were first incremented between 1871 and 1901. Beginning in 1901, the Dominion Government changed its policy so that census-taking occurred every 5 years subsequently. This was to document the effects of the advertising campaign initiated by Clifford Sifton .

Why was Canadianization important?

Canadianization was a high priority for new arrivals lacking a British cultural background. Immigrants from Britain were given highest priority. There was no special effort to attract Francophone immigrants. In terms of economic opportunity, Canada was most attractive to farmers headed to the Prairies, who typically came from eastern and central Europe. Immigrants from Britain preferred urban life.

How many immigrants were there in the Great Migration?

The Great Migration of Canada (also known as the Great Migration from Britain) was a period of high immigration to Canada from 1815 to 1850, involving over 800,000 immigrants chiefly from the British Isles.

What is Canadian citizenship?

Canadian citizenship was originally created under the Immigration Act, 1910, to designate those British subjects who were domiciled in Canada, while all other British subjects required permission to land. A separate status of 'Canadian national' was created under the Canadian Nationals Act, 1921, which defined such British subjects as being Canadian citizens, as well as their wives and children (fathered by such citizens) who had not yet landed in Canada. Following the passage of the Statute of Westminster in 1931, the monarchy thus ceased to be an exclusively British institution. As result, Canadians—just as all others living among the Commonwealth realms —were known as subjects of the Crown, while the term "British subject" would continue to be used in legal documents.

What were the settlement patterns of the Europeans?

Settlement patterns. When Europeans began exploring and developing resources in what is now Canada, they found the land sparsely populated by many different First Nations in the south and the Inuit in the north. The indigenous peoples were primarily hunters and gatherers and often were nomadic. Because they were few in number, ...

What is the impact of urbanization on Canada?

In the Niagara Peninsula of southwestern Ontario, the area with the best climate in Canada for producing soft fruits and grapes, urbanization has destroyed some one-third of the fruit land. To prevent further reduction, the Ontario Municipal Board in the 1980s delineated permanent urban boundaries and ordered that urban growth be directed away from fruit-growing areas.

Where did the Appalachian settlers live?

In the Appalachian region, farms are spaced along the roads at irregular intervals wherever land can be cultivated. In Quebec the first settlers laid off long, narrow tillage strips from the shores of the Gulf of St. Lawrence or the St. Lawrence River into the interior. As settlement moved farther inland, roads were built parallel to the waterways, from which further narrow lots extended on either side. The same pattern occurred in the Red River valley of Manitoba and even parts of Ontario, where the early settlers were also French.

Where is the French farmland?

Long narrow strips of farmland, typical of French Canada, lie along the roads in the St. Lawrence River valley near Montreal.

Did settlement occur in patches?

Settlement did not proceed sequentially westward from an Atlantic beginning. Permanent settlement depended on agricultural land—which in Canada occurs in patches, separated by physical barriers. Different patches were settled by people from various European countries, so that a diversity of cultures and settlement patterns developed across the country.

Who inhabited Canada?

Historians and scientists believe that what is now known as Canada was originally inhabited by North American aboriginal, or indigenous people. They are thought to have arrived there from Asia, over the Bering Land Bridge, around 18,000 to 21,000 B.C. Although this land bridge no longer exists above ground, it is theorized ...

Which colony was reformed into the British colony Quebec?

It only took half-an-hour, and the British emerged as the victor. France ’s rule of North America ended when the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1763. Most of Louisiana and all of New France were given to Britain. However, in 1774 new France was reformed into the British colony Quebec, and was governed by the Quebec Act.

What was the cause of the conflict in 1755?

One of best-known conflicts was in 1755, when the British attacked France’s Fort Beauséjour, in eastern Canada’s Isthmus of Chignecto that connects Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

What cities did the French settle in?

The three best-known are Quebec City, Port-Royal, and Trois-Rivières. After de Champlain died, the new governor established the Montreal settlement in 1642. The French then began to move southwest towards the Great Lakes and Mississippi River, claiming a large part of the middle portion of North America.

Why was the Quebec Act created?

The Quebec Act was put into place to maintain French laws, protect the French “seigneurial system” of framing, and the Catholic religion.

What was the name of the region that the British named Rupert's Land?

They declared ownership of North America’s entire east coast, including the desirable Hudson’s Bay in east-central Canada. Britain named this vast region Rupert’s Land, and it was held by the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC).

What is the North West Territory?

Map of the North-West Territory of the Province of Canada, stretching from the Fraser River on the west to Lake Superior on the east. By David Thompson, 1814. Britain was also exploring and settling North America during this time period, and had established strong colonies in Boston, Jamestown, and Plymouth.

When did Newfoundland join Canada?

Most of these colonies joined the Confederation of Canada in the 1860s or 1870s, though Newfoundland would not join Canada until 1949 . Canada gained full autonomy following the passage of the Statute of Westminster 1931, though it retained various ties to Britain and still recognizes the British monarch as head of state.

When did the British colonize the North?

Colonization efforts began in the 17th century with failed attempts by England to establish permanent colonies in the North. The first permanent British colony was established in Jamestown, Virginia in 1607. Approximately 30,000 Algonquian Indians lived in the region at the time.

What colony was established in 1607?

The 1607 settlement of the Jamestown colony grew into the Colony of Virginia and Virgineola (settled unintentionally by the shipwreck of the Virginia Company's Sea Venture in 1609) quickly renamed The Somers Isles (though the older Spanish name of Bermuda has resisted replacement).

What was the second British Empire?

Historians refer to the British Empire after 1783 as the "Second British Empire"; this period saw Britain increasingly focus on Asia and Africa instead of the Americas, and increasingly focus on the expansion of trade rather than territorial possessions.

How did the colonial population grow?

Between immigration, the importation of slaves, and natural population growth, the colonial population in British North America grew immensely in the 18th century. According to historian Alan Taylor, the population of the Thirteen Colonies (the British North American colonies which would eventually form the United States) stood at 1.5 million in 1750. More than ninety percent of the colonists lived as farmers, though cities like Philadelphia, New York, and Boston flourished. With the defeat of the Dutch and the imposition of the Navigation Acts, the British colonies in North America became part of the global British trading network. The colonists traded foodstuffs, wood, tobacco, and various other resources for Asian tea, West Indian coffee, and West Indian sugar, among other items. Native Americans far from the Atlantic coast supplied the Atlantic market with beaver fur and deerskins, and sought to preserve their independence by maintaining a balance of power between the French and English. By 1770, the economic output of the Thirteen Colonies made up forty percent of the gross domestic product of the British Empire.

What was the first colony in the Americas?

The first permanent British colony was established in Jamestown, Virginia in 1607. Over the next several centuries more colonies were established in North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Though most British colonies in the Americas eventually gained independence, some colonies have opted to remain under Britain's jurisdiction as British Overseas Territories .

Who were the first Europeans to settle in America?

The first documented settlement of Europeans in the Americas was established by Norse people led by Leif Erikson around 1000 AD in what is now Newfoundland, called Vinland by the Norse. Later European exploration of North America resumed with Christopher Columbus 's 1492 expedition sponsored by Spain. English exploration began almost a century later. Sir Walter Raleigh established the short-lived Roanoke Colony in 1585. The 1607 settlement of the Jamestown colony grew into the Colony of Virginia and Virgineola (settled unintentionally by the shipwreck of the Virginia Company's Sea Venture in 1609) quickly renamed The Somers Isles (though the older Spanish name of Bermuda has resisted replacement). In 1620, a group of Puritans established a second permanent colony on the coast of Massachusetts. Several other English colonies were established in North America during the 17th and 18th centuries. With the authorization of a royal charter, the Hudson's Bay Company established the territory of Rupert's Land in the Hudson Bay drainage basin. The English also established or conquered several colonies in the Caribbean, including Barbados and Jamaica .

Why was English settlement chosen?

Partridge said that English Settlement was ultimately chosen because he felt "it's our most English record.". He explained: "It's kind of an ambiguous title. ... [The horse is] literally a kind of Iron Age advertisement for an English settlement that was on top of the hill when the first settlers came to England.

How long did English Settlement stay on the Billboard 200?

It reached number 5 on the UK Album Chart during an 11-week stay, as well as number 48 on the US Billboard 200 during a 20-week stay.

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Migrant Origins

Immigration History

  • The British Colonies Immigration in the broader sense began in the Atlantic colonies with the founding of Halifax in 1749. That year saw the arrival of Colonel Edward Cornwallis with some 2,500 settlers mostly recruited from England. With the capture of Louisbourg in 1758 and Québec City in 1759, followed by the Treaty of Paris (1763), New France b...
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Settlement in Canada

  • Proportionately, the most English settlements have been in Newfoundland, British Columbia, the Maritime provinces, and later in Ontario. In Québec, the English are found mainly in enclaves in Montréal (see Westmount) and the Eastern Townships. But wherever they have settled, except in Québec (see English-Speaking Quebecers), they have tended to quickly become assimilated int…
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Economic Life

  • The English and their descendants entered into every level of Canadian economic life. They have been prominent in government and have shared the control of Canadian business with the Scots, not only in the English-speaking parts of Canada but also in Montréal (see Elites; Business Elites). The Canadian armed forceswere created and have largely been staffed by officers of English de…
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Social and Cultural Life

  • Because of their dominance, the English have never had to defend or actively promote their culture the way other ethnic groups in Canada have had to. At one time, the largest and most important English cultural society was the Sons of England, which in 1913 had 40,000 Canadian members. Lodges formed across Canada were usually led by affluent Englishmen, professionals…
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Canadian Institutions: The English Legacy

  • A number of Canadian institutions — some of them very important — have been profoundly influenced by English models. Representative institutions of governance and the traditions of the British and English common law are among the most important inheritances Canada has received from Great Britain. The parliamentary system, under which the Cabinet is responsible to Parliam…
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Overview

The history of Canada covers the period from the arrival of the Paleo-Indians to North America thousands of years ago to the present day. Prior to European colonization, the lands encompassing present-day Canada were inhabited for millennia by Indigenous peoples, with distinct trade networks, spiritual beliefs, and styles of social organization. Some of these older civilizations had long fad…

Canada under French rule

French interest in the New World began with Francis I of France, who in 1524 sponsored Giovanni da Verrazzano's navigation of the region between Florida and Newfoundland in hopes of finding a route to the Pacific Ocean. Although the English had laid claims to it in 1497 when John Cabot made landfall somewhere on the North American coast (likely either modern-day Newfoundland or Nova …

Indigenous peoples

Archeological and Indigenous genetic evidence indicate that North and South America were the last continents into which humans migrated. During the Wisconsin glaciation, 50,000–17,000 years ago, falling sea levels allowed people to move gradually across the Bering land bridge (Beringia), from Siberia into northwest North America. At that point, they were blocked by the Laurentid…

Canada under British rule

As part of the terms of the Treaty of Paris (1763), signed after the defeat of New France in the Seven Years' War, France renounced its claims to territory in mainland North America, except for fishing rights off Newfoundland and the two small islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon where its fishermen could dry their fish. France had already secretly transferred its vast Louisiana territory to Spai…

Confederation

The Seventy-Two Resolutions from the 1864 Quebec Conference and Charlottetown Conference laid out the framework for uniting British colonies in North America into a federation. The Resolutions became the basis for the London Conference of 1866, which led to the formation of the Dominion of Canada on July 1, 1867. The term dominion was chosen to indicate Canada's st…

World Wars and Interwar Years (1914–1945)

The Canadian Forces and civilian participation in the First World War helped to foster a sense of British-Canadian nationhood. The highpoints of Canadian military achievement during the First World War came during the Somme, Vimy, Passchendaele battles and what later became known as "Canada's Hundred Days". The reputation Canadian troops earned, along with the success of Can…

Post-war era (1945–1960)

Prosperity returned to Canada during the Second World War and continued in the following years, with the development of universal health care, old-age pensions, and veterans' pensions. The financial crisis of the Great Depression had led the Dominion of Newfoundland to relinquish responsible government in 1934 and become a crown colony ruled by a British governor. In 1948, the Britis…

1960–1981

In the 1960s, what became known as the Quiet Revolution took place in Quebec, overthrowing the old establishment which centred on the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec and led to modernizing of the economy and society. Québécois nationalists demanded independence, and tensions rose until violence erupted during the 1970 October Crisis. John Saywell says, "The two …

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