History of Canada

By RadoslawW
  • 15,000 BCE

    Prehistoric hunters cross over into Canada from Asia

  • 1000

    Leif Ericsson leads a Viking expedition to the New World

  • 1451

    The Iroquois Confederacy is formed

  • 1497

    John Cabot reaches Newfoundland (or perhaps Cape Breton)

  • 1534

    Jacques Cartier first explores the St. Lawrence region

  • Samuel de Champlain establishes a French colony at Québec City

  • Hudson’s Bay Company is formed

  • Expulsion of the Acadians

  • Battle of the Plains of Abraham: Québec City is captured

  • New France is formally ceded to Britain; Pontiac Rebellion erupts

  • Loyalist refugees begin arriving after the American Revolution

  • Period: to

    War of 1812: U.S. invades Canada

  • Period: to

    Rebellions against British rule in Upper and Lower Canada

  • Responsible government is won, first in Nova Scotia, then in Canada

  • Confederation (first four provinces: Québec, Ontario, N.S., and N.B.)

  • Red River Resistance; province of Manitoba is created

  • B.C. join Canada

  • P.E.I. join Canada

  • North-West Rebellion; the Canadian Pacific Railway is completed

  • The provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan are created

  • Period: to

    World War I

  • Women win the vote in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta

  • The Winnipeg General Strike

  • Period: to

    The Great Depression

  • Period: to

    World War II

  • Newfoundland joins Canada

  • Period: to

    Korean War

  • St. Lawrence Seaway (major transportation route) officially opens

  • Québec’s Quiet Revolution begins; Native Canadians given the vote

  • Canada’s 100th birthday; Expo 67 World’s Fair in Montréal

  • October Crisis: political kidnappings, Ottawa suspends civil rights

  • Québec referendum on “sovereignty-association” defeated 60% to 40%

  • Constitution comes home — with a Charter of Rights and Freedoms

  • Period: to

    Meech Lake Accord is put forward — and collapses

  • Charlottetown Accord is rejected by a national referendum

  • Québec referendum on sovereignty is narrowly defeated

  • The new Arctic territory of Nunavut is created

  • Clarity Bill outlines the terms of Québec separation

  • Canada says “no” to joining the war in Iraq

  • Former PM Jean Chrétien and sitting PM Paul Martin testify at the Gomery Inquiry

  • Canada sets record for gold medals at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games