-
Period: to
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to [Spain and] Great Britain in 1763. -
New France Colony at Port Royal
Samuel de Champlain establishes the first successful New France Colony at Port Royal (present day Nova Scotia) -
Quebec City founded by Samuel de Champlain
First permanent European settlement (Quebec City) founded by Samuel de Champlain -
Hudson Bay Company chartered
Hudson Bay Company chartered by Charles II of England -
Period: to
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War (1754–1763) is the American name for the North American theater of the Seven Years' War. The war was fought primarily between the colonies of British America and New France, with both sides supported by military units from their parent countries of Great Britain and France. In 1756, the war escalated from a regional affair into a world-wide conflict. -
Battle of the Plains of Abraham
The Battle of the Plains of Abraham was a pivotal battle in the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War). The battle was fought between the British Army and Navy, and the French Army, on a plateau just outside the walls of Quebec City, on land that was originally owned by a farmer named Abraham Martin, hence the name of the battle. The battle proved to be a deciding moment in the conflict between France and Britain over the fate of New France, influencing the later creation of Canada. -
Treaty of Paris, 1763
The Treaty of Paris was signed in 1763 by the kingdoms of Great Britain, France and Spain, with Portugal in agreement, after Britain's victory over France and Spain during the Seven Years' War. The signing of the treaty formally ended the French and Indian War in the North American theatre which marked the beginning of an era of British dominance outside Europe. -
Quebec Act, 1774
Quebec Act was a British statute. The Act enlarged the boundaries of the PROVINCE OF QUEBEC. The colony was to be governed by a governor; an elected assembly was not provided. Religious freedom was guaranteed for the colony's Roman Catholic majority, and a simplified Test Oath, which omitted references to religion, enabled them to enter public office. The Act established French civil law and British criminal law. -
Period: to
American Revolutionary War, 1775–1783
The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), in the United States, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Thirteen Colonies. The main result was an American victory and European recognition of the independence of the United States. United Empire Loyalists emigrated to Canada from the newly created United States. -
Constitutional Act, 1791
The British Parliament Constitutional Act creating UPPER CANADA and LOWER CANADA. This Act enshrined constitutional changes that were part of that reorganization of BNA which took place under the pressure of thousands of UNITED EMPIRE LOYALISTS seeking refuge after the American Revolution. The bill's general purpose was to "assimilate" each colony's constitution to that of Britain. -
Period: to
War of 1812
The war of 1812 was a military conflict between the United States and Great Britain. As a colony of Great Britain, Canada was swept up in the War of 1812 and was invaded a number of times by the Americans. -
Period: to
Upper /Lower Canda Rebellions 1837-1838
The Rebellions of 1837 were two armed uprisings that took place in Lower and Upper Canada in 1837 and 1838. Both rebellions were motivated by frustrations in political reform. A key shared goal was responsible government, which was eventually achieved in the incident's aftermath. -
Durham Report, 1838
The notable British politician Earl of Durham was sent to the Canadas to investigate and report on the causes of the rebellions of 1837–38. Report contained 3 main recommendations: 1) that responsible government be granted to the British North American colonies; (2) that Upper & Lower Canada be amalgamated to form a united Province of Canada; and (3) that French Canadians be assimilated. -
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867 with the passage of the British North America Act. On that day, three British colonies became four provinces of the new dominion. The existing Province of Canada was divided into the new provinces of Ontario and Quebec, and two other colonies, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, also became provinces of the Dominion of Canada. -
Statute of Westminster
Statute of Westminster, 11 Dec 1931, a British law clarifying the powers of Canada's Parliament and those of the other Dominions, and granting the former colonies full legal legislative freedom except in those areas where they chose to remain subordinate. Until this time the British government had certain powers, and ultimately overriding authority, over Dominion legislation. -
Canada Act 1982
The Canada Act 1982 is an Act of the Parliament of the UK that was passed at the request of the Canadian federal government to "patriate" Canada's constitution, ending the necessity for Canada to request certain types of amendment to the Constitution of Canada to be made by the British parliament. The Act formally ended the "request & consent" provisions of the Statute of Westminster 1931, whereby the British parliament had a general power to pass laws extending to Canada at its own request.
