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Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Columbus "discovers" America
Columbus landed on the island he called San Salvador, today what is now The Bahamas. Columbus operated with the concept of Terra-Nullius when coming to America. This is Latin for land that belongs to no one. -
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France in control of Canada
The founding Quebec City in 1608, which was soon to be the capitol of New France, the people of France controlled Canada during the early 1600's. In 1630, there were only 103 colonists living in the settlement, but by 1640, the population had reached 355. -
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Fur Trade
For nearly 250 years the Fur Trade was a vast commercial business across the wild forest of what is now Canada. The high demand for Beaver Hats caused a large increase of European settlers to come to Canada to trap beavers. These high demands of fur pelts led to the creation of trading posts and companies such as the Hudson's Bay Company and the Northwest Company. -
Henry Hudson sails to Northern North America
Henry Hudson was in search for a route to China. This passage is known as The North West Passage" During the first winter Henry Hudson's ship was trapped in the what is now the Hudson Bay. They were forced to travel in land to safety. Henry Hudson was exiled after his decision leading to the ship becoming stuck. -
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The Seven Years War
In North America, imperial rivals Britain and France struggled for supremacy. Early in the war, the French (aided by Canadian militia and Aboriginal allies) defeated several British attacks and captured a number of British forts. -
Battle of the Plains of Abraham
The Battle of the Plains of Abraham was a pivotal moment in the Seven Years’ War and in the history of Canada. A British invasion force led by General James Wolfe defeated French troops under the Marquis de Montcalm, leading to the surrender of Québec to the British. The Battle of the Plains of Abraham is important to immigration because Quebec was surrendered to the British. This event will lead to the colonization of the British in Quebec. -
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American Revolution
The American Revolution was a political disruption between 1765 and 1783 during which colonists in the 13 American Colonies rejected the British monarchy and aristocracy, overthrew the authority of Great Britain, and founded the United States of America. -
Loyalist Immigration
Loyalists were American colonists, of different ethnic backgrounds, who supported the British cause during the American Revolution (1775–83). Tens of thousands migrated to Canada during and after the revolutionary war. This boosted the population heavily influencing the politics and culture of what would later become Canada. -
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Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a secret network of abolitionists who helped African Americans escape from enslavement in the American. Harriet Tubman led slaves from The United States into Canada to find refuge and freedom. This was the largest anti-slavery freedom movement in North America, having brought between 30,000 and 40,000 fugitives to Canada -
The French Revolution
During the French Revolution, many people in France sought to find refuge from all of the fighting. Many came to Canada and settled in Quebec. -
The War of 1812
Loyalists of Britain living in The United States during the war left the country and sought out for refuge in Canada. The majority of loyalist refugees traveled and emigrated to the rocky Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia -
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Great Migration of Canada
was a period of high immigration to Canada from 1815 to 1850, involving over 800,000 immigrants. -
The Great Potato Famine
A failure of the potato crop caused a wide spread famine in Ireland during the 1800's. Due to the failure of the potato crop many people emigrated to Canada during the 1840's because of famine, disease and starvation. -
Great Migration of Canada
Because the Industrial Revolution began in Britain, the first (and therefore the majority of) settlers were English-speaking British. Sixty percent of these immigrants to Canada were British. This made them the largest group in Canada. The Irish came to escape the Great Potato Famine. -
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Immigrants to Canada
Immigrants to Canada primarily came from three regions, Great Britain, Continental Europe and Asia during the years 1880-1914 -
Canadian Pacific Railway
After years of construction the Canadian Pacific Railway open gates to great opportunities. Linking all of Canada together the railway made migration much easier since now the western part of the nation could be more accessible. The Canadian Pacific Railway had an intense campaign to bring immigrants over to Canada to build the railway. People from China were shipped to Canada to build the railway. Alone in British Columbia around 17,000 workers built the dangerous sections around the mountains. -
Chinese Head tax
The Chinese Head Tax was a fixed fee charged to each Chinese person entering Canada. The head tax was first enforced after the Canadian parliament passed the Chinese immigration act of 1885. It was meant to discourage Chinese people from entering Canada after the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway. -
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Ukrainian Immigration
Many people especially Ukrainians sought for a better life in Canada. The Ukrainians were attracted to Canada because of its spacious land. Ukrainians moved to Canada in hope of more land for farming. -
Open Door Immigration Policy
Through Wilfrid Laurier's Open Door Immigration Policy, about 1 million immigrants came to Canada from places such as The United States, Great Britain and Europe. -
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Chinese Immigration
Chinese people came to Canada between the years 1880-1885 because workers were needed for the Canadian Pacific Railway. From 1880-1885 about 17,000 Chinese labourers helped build the difficult and dangerous British Columbia section of the railway.
