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In 1833, British North America abolished slavery in all British colonies effective 1 August 1834. 800,000 slaves were technically freed from slavery, but only 50 slaves were actually under the regulations of slavery at the time. Nevertheless, this act proved monumental in the later exodus of 30 to 40 thousand people into Canada.
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In 1841, Upper and Lower Canada was conjoined into one large colony named the Province of Canada, under the justification that it would help reinstate peace between the two colonies and that it would help remedy the debt that Canada was suffering from at the time.
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In 1853, Mi'kmaq Chief Noel Briot petitioned to stop the sale of a piece of Mi'kmaq land; he believed it would cause extreme poverty for his people and thus should we stopped. However, the British government refused his plea under the reason that the first people "are not well adapted to become valuable settlers."
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In 1854, the British and Americans declared free trade between both parties on agricultural products as well as natural resources; under free trade, the two countries could trade without taxes. In 1866, the treaty expired, thus influencing the increase in trade between the British colonies.
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In 1862, a cruise liner brought a case of smallpox to Vancouver Island; over the next 18 months, nearly 32,000 people died, or 64% of the entire population. Those people were composed of almost entirely First Nations people; meanwhile, the authorities attempted to provide relief to those affected through vaccination.
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In the September of 1864, the Maritime provinces met with representatives of the Province of Canada; those being John A. Macdonald accompanied by other pro-confederation leaders. Newfoundland was not represented at this conference and as a result did not voice their concerns here. The goal of the conference was to convince the Maritime provinces about the integrity of confederation. The conference ended up influencing the consideration of confederation by the Maritime provinces attending.
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In the October of 1864, the Maritime provinces met up once again to discuss confederation. The same people who attended the first meeting also attend the second one; meanwhile, Newfoundland sent observers, but did not directly participate in the meeting. The meeting was used to lay out all of the interests/resolutions of the colonies; the final result of the conference ended up only securing New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in the agreement.
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The last conference before confederation, the London conference took place in England, concluding the status of all participating colonies as colonies at all, rather being considered as a united and partially self-governing country by the British Parliament. The reason conferences did not take place with British Columbia is because B.C had agreed beforehand on confederation due to worries about American expansion as well as the massive amounts of debt British Columbia was faced with.
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On July 1, 1867, Canada was officially and formally formed. On this day, Queen Victoria proclaimed that the Province of Canada, New Brunswick as well as Nova Scotia were all officially united in the Dominion of Canada; John A. Macdonald was appointed as Prime Minister and was knighted for his efforts in the dominion of Canada; he was then voted into the position a month later.
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Note: Date is unknown; only year is correct. This date commemorates the beginning of construction for the dawson road.
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In 1870, the Young Women's Christian Association was opened in response to more and more single young women.
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In 1871, it became mandatory for children to attend elementary school for at least a few months a year.
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In 1872, Canada legalized trade unions in Canada.
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The Northwest Mounted Police were formed on this date to maintain law and order in the area.
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On this date, Alexander Mackenzie successfully and decisively defeated Sir John A. Macdonald after it was noted that he accepted a bribe and thus committed a corruption offence.
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In 1876, a series of regulations regarding first nations became effective; this act applied to all first nations in Canada. Exact date unknown.
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In this election, Sir John A. Macdonald successfully won the election and defeated Alexander Mackenzie after losing to him because of a scandal.
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The CPR company started construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1881 and finished in 1885.
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In 1885, Canada introduce head tax, the amount an immigrant would have to pay in order to enter the country (specifically Chinese)
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In 1893, the Ontario government passed an act called the children's charter that protected children in numerous ways.
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In 1897, the first Women's Institute was opened to help educate women domestically (healthy practices, etc.)
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On July 27, 1900, 400 skilled workers attempted to negotiate with their employer by going on strike, but failed, becoming representative of the situation all around Canada for unskilled workers.
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In 1902, wives of black porters formed the CWCM as a counterpart to the mainly white-dominated women's organizations.
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In 1904, a fire burned down more than 100 buildings and threw away the jobs of over 5000 workers in Toronto; this incident spread concerns about safety.
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In 1906, the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario was established.
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In 1906, Canada passed the immigration act which gave the government more control over immigration; it was revised in 1910 which gave the government yet more power.