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1497
John Cabot
John Cabot came over from Europe to explore under commission from Henry VII of England. He is credited with being one of the first explorers to discover North America. His discovery of fish in NewFoundLand drove many fishermen to immigrate to Canada from Europe. -
Period: 1500 to
The Fur Trade
With the discovery of beavers in Canada and the rising demand for beaver skin hats in Britain, the fur trade between the Native Americans and the British exploded. This was one of the first large drivers of immigration to Canada from Britain. -
Period: to
Acadia
Acadia was a French colony that encompassed present day New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, the Magdalen Islands, Prince Edward Islands, and Maine. This land was constantly being fought over by the French and British, with the British taking full control of the land before Canada's independence on July 1st, 1867. -
The Hudson's Bay
The Hudson's Bay was originally a fur trading company founded in 1670, they helped distribute and manage the new and growing fur trade in North America. The company's success helped attract new settlers to Canada. -
Period: to
The Seven Years War
The Seven Years War was fought between the British and the French in Canada, however it involved most European powers at the time. The fighting took place in Europe, North America, and India. The war was the first global war fought on land and sea. Many events during the war had affected, and resulted in, the creation and independence of Canada. -
Plains of Abraham
The Plains of Abraham was a battle fought between the French and the British. The British successfully resisted the French's advances to take back Quebec. This event is seen as a turning point in the conflict between the French and British, leading to the creation of part of present day Canada. -
Period: to
Loyalists
Loyalists where people who, during the independence movement in Canada, remained loyal to Britain and the crown. Their loyalty often resulted in their homes being raided and their lives being constantly disturbed by rebels wanting independence. Many loyalists left Canada due to the hostility they received from separatists. -
Red River Valley Settlement
The Red River Settlement was created by Thomas Douglas to accommodate new Irish settlers. The land was sold to him by the Hudson's Bay Company but there were still many Native Americans living on this land. Many were displaced to make room for the settlement. -
Period: to
The Great Migration
The Great Migration refers to upwards of 800,000 people immigrating to Canada from Britain due to factory jobs being replaced by machines, resulting in job loss. -
Period: to
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad is the name given to paths and routes that escaped black slaves would take to try and reach Canada where slavery was outlawed. Some estimates suggest that upwards of 100,000 slaves escaped via the Railway, while others estimate that the number may only be 30,000. The American government however only accounts for 6,000 people. -
Period: to
Irish Famine
The Irish famine caused by hundreds of potato crops being infected with potato blight, resulted in aproximitly 20% - 25% of Ireland's population to emigrate, many of which immigrated to Canada in the mid 1800s. -
Gold Mountain
Gold Mountain is a term used primarily by Chinese immigrants to refer to the wealth and opportunities in British Colombia following the discovery of gold. This prompted thousands of Chinese immigrants to come to Canada in the 19th century. -
Land Availability
To encourage immigration to Canada, the government started to give land away for free to new immigrants and farmers. This however, was done with little to no regard for the native population that called the prairies their home. This promise of free land attracted many new immigrants to Canada in the late 1800s. -
Period: to
The Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway was Canada's first transcontinental railway. The construction of the railway attracted many new immigrants, primarily from mainland China. The workers were payed extremely poorly alongside the horrible working conditions, where it is estimated that one worker died for every mile of rail laid between the Rockies and Vancouver. -
Period: to
The Chinese Head Tax
The Chinese Head Tax was a sum that Chinese immigrants had to pay in order to be allowed to enter the Country. The amount started at $50 and reached a max of $500 before it was abolished. The tax was put in place after the completion of the railway to discourage any further immigration to Canada. Chinese immigration dropped drastically, but over 81,000 Chinese people still decided to come to Canada despite the tax.
