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Jan 1, 1497
John Cabot Claims Newfoundland for Britain
This began Britain's colonization of what would one day become Canada. This was extremely important to the development of Canada as it is today because it was this event of imperial globalization in Cabot claiming Newfoundland for Britain that initially started the process of Canada's development. -
Period: Jan 1, 1497 to
Timeline of Canadian Historical Globalization
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Jan 1, 1500
Rich Fishing Waters Attract Europeans
Although at first not much attention was cast towards North America, that soon changed as weary European travellers found an abundant source of fish in the waters off of Canada's Atlantic coast. This helped begin European colonization in Canada as a base to resupply travelling ships whose food is running low after the month-long journey across the Atlantic Ocean. -
Jan 1, 1535
Jacques Cartier Claims Land Around the St. Lawrence River for France
Jacques Cartier explored up the St. Lawrence River and claimed land around it for France, calling it New France. This set the stage for the many conflicts between the already fueding British and French which helped shape Canada as a nation and North America as a continent. A legacy that it left was in part responsibility for Canada's multiculturalism as both the French and the British had now claimed land in what would become Canada. -
The Beaver Fur Trade
The fur trade was a major event in Canadian globalization as it was a resource plentiful in Canada but scarce in other places. The fur trade brought attention, money and most of all people to North America Which started the development of Canada. To commemorate this grand event a beaver sitting on a log was put on the reverse side of the Canadian five-cent nickel, where it remains today. -
The Hudson's Bay Company
In 1670, a British royal charter granted the Govenor and Company of Adventurers of England Trading into Hudson`s Bay exclusive trading rights on all the lands whose rivers drained into Hudson Bay, thus creating the Hudson`s Bay Company. This area ended up covering 7,000,000 km2. This area included much of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. The Hudson`s Bay Company helped spread settlers out west and then protect the land to form Canada which spreads from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. -
The Hudson`s Bay Company Cont.
As well the Hudson`s Bay Company more wealth to Canadian soil that is still around today as a Canadian icon richly engraved in Canadian history. -
The Seven Years' War
A world war fought by many nations around the world between 1756 and 1763. It affected North America by being a fight between the British and france for control over the North American colonies. The British won the Seven Years' War and gained control of the French colony of New France. This left the legacy of a mainly British and anglophone Canada today, with only Québec having French as the official language and New Brunswick being officially bilingual. -
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The Seven Years' War
A world war fought by many nations around the world between mighty European nations. It affected North America by being a fight between the British and france for control over the North American colonies. The British won the Seven Years' War and gained control of the French colony of New France. This left the legacy of a mainly British and anglophone Canada today, with only Québec having French as the official language and New Brunswick being officially bilingual. -
The Royal Proclamation of 1763
After the British won the Seven Years Wars they gained control of the French colony of New France. Under British rule New France became Québec. The British put out legislation set out land for Aboriginal peoples. This legislation was thought of as groundbreaking by First Nations as it recognized Aboriginal title. This proclamation made the British negotiate treaties with First Nations and helped establish a treaty-making process that remains in effect today. -
The Québec Act of 1774
With colonists in the Thirteen Colonies becoming agitated with and the American Revolution being imminent, the British in Québec feared that the French would join the Americans. The British acted to prevent any French uprising by legislating the Québec Act of 1774. The Québec Act of 1774 allowed French civil law to remain in place in Québec. This was very important in Canada`s development as it helped affirm the identity and culture of Québécois and make Canada a multicultural nation. -
The Destruction of the Beothuk
The death of Shawnadithit marked the extinction of the Beothuk people, wiped out by the Europeans who killed many with the rest dying of disease and starvation. This attitude of Europeans led to the struggles of Aboriginal peoples throughout Canadian history that still occur today. -
Canadian Confederation
On July 1st, 1867, the federal Dominion of Canada was formed. The existing Province of Canada was split into the provinces of Ontario and Québec and the two colonies of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia became provinces as well. This date is one of the most important dates in Canadian history as it was the day that Canada was created. To this day Canada is a proud thriving nation that celebrates its confederation annually with Canada Day on July 1st. -
Depopulation of First Nations Due to Smallpox
European diseases often devastated groups of First Nations as they had no immunity. In 1870, an outbreak of smallpox killed thousands of Cree and Blackfoot people. This left their communities in sickness and turmoil. This depopulation also set them as even more of a minority group and brought their cultures even closer to extinction. First Nations people are still a minority group in Canada with many different groups of them struggling to maintain their traditional culture and way of life. -
The Numbered Treaties
From 1871-1877, seven treaties were signed between First Nations and the Canadian government. In these treaties, the First Nations would leave their land and live on reserves. In return they were promised annual payments and other benefits. Another four treaties were signed from 1899-1921. Today, many communities of status Indians still live on the reserves given to them by the government. As well many cases and conflicts have occured from promises from the treaties not being fulfilled. -
The Indian Act
The Indian Act of 1876 was one of the tools used by the government to assimiliate Aboriginal peoples. It put strict regulation and control of the lives First Nations people in government officials. Although the act still remains today, many of its provisions have changed. The Indian Act left a lasting legacy, with Aboriginal culture not being fully accepted in Canada for a long time even despite Canada`s muticultural reputation. Canada is still in repair of the damage of the Indian Act. -
Residential Schools
Residential schools were schools where First Nations children were taken to live, work, and study. They were also a tool in the government`s assimilation policy. They were set up because the Indian Act made the government responsible for educating First Nations children, Starting in 1880, school age children were taken to residential schools regardless of choice. They left the legacy of many problems for Native people as many lost touch on their culture and family in residential schools. -
The Charter of Rights and Freedoms
As the first part of the Constitution Act of 1982, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms is legislation that guarantees certain political rights to citizens of Canada and civil rights to everyone in Canada. It helped verify solidify Canada`s image as an accepting society that allows freedom to all. As a result of the Cahrter of Rights and Freedoms Canada has become known internationally as a multicultural society open to all people.
