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1500
1500 - First Occupants Arrive
The first occupants came into North America from the North-East of Asia through the Bering Strait Land Bridge around 12,000 B.C. -
Period: 1500 to
First Occupants
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1534
1534 - Jacques Cartier's first trip
Jacques Cartier was sent by King Francis I to find a new route to Asia, but instead he found what is now known as North America. He was sent to find new territory, precious resources and to convert people to Catholicism. He also found cod, which was extremely useful because of the lack of protein in France at the time. -
1535
1535 - Jacques Cartier's second trip
In Jacques Cartier's second voyage, he went further down the Saint Lawrence River. On his way he found Stadacona and Hochelaga. He made contact with the first nations and kidnapped two of chief Donnacona's children, so they can learn to communicate with the Amerindians. -
1608 - Samuel de Champlain founds Québec
In 1608, Samuel de Champlain decided to found Québec where the river narrows. He chose that place because there's easy access to the St. Lawrence river/ the ocean. It was also a great trading point with the Innus and Algonquins. -
Period: to
French Regime
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1627 - Company of 100 associates
The King granted this company a trade monopoly, so they were the only business doing trade in New France. In return, the Company had to bring over settlers to New France and protect them, but that cost money and they didn't want to risk lives bringing people over. -
1634 - Foundation of Trois-Rivières
In 1634, Samuel de Champlain founded Trois-Rivières as the second official settlement in Canada. This site allowed furriers to communicate with each other without the Iroquois intercepting their trades. -
1642 - Foundation of Ville-Marie
Paul Chomedey originally founded this village close to the Iroquois village of Hochelaga, so they can evangelize the Amerindians. Eventually this also became a major trading post since it was at the heart of the Amerindian territory. It is now known as Montréal. -
1663 - Intendant Jean Talon
Jean Talon was appointed by King Louis XIV to take over administration of the colony. His goal was to populate New France. He encouraged immigration and he created a bunch of birth incentives, so the current settlers would increase their colony themselves a lot more. -
1666 - First Census of New France
Jean Talon organized the First Census to get an idea of the population. It showed us that there were almost twice as many men as women. There were also a lot of recommendations to increase the population of New France. -
1756 - Seven Year's War
From 1756 to 1763, there was a war in Europe between the British and the French. When the English won the war, the French signed the Treaty of Paris, which gave over all of New France to the English -
Period: to
British Rule
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1763 - Royal Proclamation
This document was signed to officially give over New France to British. All the laws were replaced with the English laws and it's name was changed to the Province of Québec. -
1760 - British Military Rule
When the English won the war of Conquests in New France, the seven year war was still happening in Europe. The military had to take over and keep everyone calm until the King would give them further instructions when the war ended in 1763 -
1774 - Quebec Act
This document was a gift for the French people to make sure they stay loyal to the King of England during the war. In the Quebec Act the catholic religion was accepted, the province's territory was expanded and the French civil law was restored. -
1776 - Declaration of Independence for the USA
In 1776, the 13 colonies officially declare their independence from British Control. There were some people who remained loyal to the King of England and those people were called Loyalists. They decided to move into British North America. -
1791 - Constitutional Act
This Act opened up new land, so the loyalists would have a place to colonize. It also divided Canada into two parts, Upper-Canada mainly for the English-Canadians, and Lower-Canada mainly for the French-Canadians -
1840 - Act of Union
This act reunited Lower-Canada and Upper-Canada into one territory called Canada. Now English became the official language and the French found themselves as a minority in United-Canada. -
1845 - The Great Famine
From 1845 to 1852, there was a disease found in potatoes in Ireland, which made them unfit to eat. Since this was their main food source, there was a period of mass starvation in Ireland. This caused an exodus of people leaving Ireland to come to North America. Since the Irish worked for less, the Canadians felt like they were stealing their jobs and started to emigrate to the United States. -
1867 - Confederation of Canada
The British North American act created a Canadian Confederation composed of, the provinces of of Quebec, New Brunswick, Ontario and Nova Scotia. This group of provinces was called the Dominion of Canada. -
Period: to
Contemporary Period
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1946 - Baby Boom
After World War 2, in 1946, everyone in North America was happy because of their victory. Now that the war was over, immigration was allowed again. People celebrated by starting families and having lots of children. This rapid increase of the young population was called the Baby Boom. -
1952 - Immigration Act
This immigration act had a lot of specific criteria for immigrants to enter. Mainly British subjects, French citizens, and Asians that already had family were allowed in Canada the fastest. This act also excluded the Asians without family in Canada, Pakistanis, and Sri Lankans. -
1966 - The White Paper
During 1966-1967, The White Paper led to a new policy of allowing people into their country based on their skills. They would have to have a knowledge of French and a certain level of English. -
1976 - Immigration Act
This immigration act was changed to now encourage population growth, to enrich cultural heritage, to facilitate family reunions, to facilitate the adaptation of new residents into society, and to maintain humanitarian attitude towards refugees. -
1976 - Bill 101
This bill was put into place because the French people wanted to protect their language in Quebec. All immigrant children had to go to a French school to learn french. -
1980 - Quebec government policies after 1980
Since the 1980s, the government has made several policies to help families. Some of the policies are the tax breaks for having children, cheap day cares and the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan. -
2000s - Brain Drain
During the 2000s, educated and skilled workers started leaving to work in the United States. They would leave to get the same jobs with better pay and more flexible hours.
