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Period: Aug 30, 1500 to
Population
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Sep 19, 1500
First Occupants
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Sep 20, 1500
Land Bridge
The Land Bridge was the only path of land that was not frozen during the Ice Age. Humans living in Asia followed the animals towards Alaska in North America. -
Aug 30, 1534
Jacques Cartier's 1st Voyage
He explored and mapped out the Gulf of St-Lawrence. He did not find the gold that the King wanted but he did find lots of timber, fish and furs. -
Sep 15, 1535
Jacques Cartier's 2nd Voyage
Sailed up the Saint-Lawrence and arrived in Stadacona (Quebec). The natives showed the Europeans how to survive the winter and scurvy. -
Sep 15, 1541
Jacques Cartier's 3rd Voyage
He tried to set up a colony but failed. France lost interest in the territory for 60 years. -
First Establishment: Port Royal
The king sent his first voyage to establish a settlement in Nova Scotia named Port Royal. Port Royal failed because of its position, Nova Scotia was too far away. -
Samuel de Champlain
He established a trading post near Stadacona (Quebec). It would become New France. It was the first successful establishment in Quebec. -
French Regime
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Seigneurial Regime
This was the first incentive to get people to live in New France. The king gave free pieces of land to rich French men who were called Seigneurs or Lords. They had to develop the land they were given and they received rent from the peasants or censitaire who lived there. The Seigneurs and the censitaires had a special agreement that they had to follow. -
Relations with the Native People
France was allied with the Algonquians while the British was allied with the Iroquois. The Europeans learned how to survive winter, how to travel. They were shown new foods, for example: corn, pumpkins, maple syrup. The Natives learned weapons and metals. They were shown new foods, for example: salt and bread. The Europeans also introduced the Natives to alcohol, which became very addictive to them. They also brought unknown diseases to the Natives, that wiped out a large amount of Natives. -
Jean Talon
The population of New France was not developing. Therefore the king put an Intendant in charge named Jean Talon. His job was to populate the territory as much as possible. -
Jean Talon's Population Measures
-Retired soldiers were given free land if they stayed in New France.
-He brought in minor criminals from France.
-The Filles du Roi were brought in for birth rates to increase.
-Couples that married young received payments.
-Fathers that had daughters around the age of 17 that still were not married were fined.
-Bachelors over 21 also paid fines. -
British Regime
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Immigration Policies
At the beginning of the British take over there was 99% French and 1% English. Therefore British immigration begins:
-(1763) The first people to come were the wealthy business men.
-(1791) Measures were put into place to encourage immigration. (Granting land to shipping and railroad companies)
-(1812) Laws discouraging American immigration in Upper Canada.
-(1840) Colonial Land, Emigration Commission and permanent immigration office in London. -
British Immigration/Loyalists
The arrival of the British merchants in the cities was not enough to change the composition of the population. After the Americans got their independence granted a group of British people that wanted to stay loyal to Great Britain moved to New France. Around 6,000 Loyalists came to Quebec and total 36 000 came to Canada. Which increased the english population from 1% to 10%. -
Irish Immigration
The Irish immigrated to New France due to the Irish Potato Famine. There were also Scottish and more English people. The conditions on the boat were very difficult and diseases spread. For example, the cholera epidemic was very common and if they had it they were quarantined. They were sent to Grosse-Ile until they were healthy or died. -
Emigration to the United States and the West
Overpopulation in the seigneuries and the horrible living conditions caused people to emigrate to the forest regions of Quebec (Outaouais), Témiscamingue and Western Canada; here they were given free land. People also moved to the outer limits, away from the cities (country). Life in the United States had better working conditions and there were more opportunities. -
Colonization of New Regions
Overpopulation and exploitation of forests leads people moving to new areas (country). For example; Saguenay, Laurentides, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Mauricie and Outaouais. The new areas that opened up were encouraged for people to go by the church because they believed more sins occurred in the city. However, they weren't successful unless there were natural resources. -
Relations with the Natives People
There were territorial concessions that were established with the Proclamation in 1763. The British continued their business alliances with the Natives for fur trade. In 1850, land reserves were designated to the aboriginal people. -
Composition of the Population
The French-Canadians still remained the majority of the population because of their high birth rate. The English speaking is minority but is growing because of the waves of immigration. In the cities there are also different groups of ethnic people. -
Contemporary Period
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Policies to Promote Immigration
-(1867) Sharing federal and provincial powers in regard with immigration matters under the British North American Act.
-(1878) National Policy: Immigration recruitment to populate Canada and land is granted to railroad companies to settle in the West.
-Waves of immigration following international events. For example, wars or economic crises.
-Before World War ll there was discriminatory immigration policies and since 1945 diversification of immigration started. -
Increase of the Urban Population
-Rural exodus; people leaving the farms for the cities.
-Development of working class neighbourhoods.
-Reversal of urban and rural populations.
-Urban sprawl; when urban developments spread (houses, shopping centers) onto land near a city. -
Colonization of New Regions
-To stop emigration towards the United States.
-Growth and occupation of territory, opening up far regions. For example, Côte-Nord, Abitibi, Gaspésie, the Laurentides.
-Creation of new communities. -
Emigration to the United States and the West
-Lack of employment in the agricultural sector. (end of the 19th beginning 20th century)
-Industrialization (end of the 19th beginning 20th century)
-Brain Drain; when your most educated and skilled workers leave to find better opportunities (starts in the 1990s) -
Relations with the Native Population
-(1876) Indian Act
-Aboriginal claims related to the exploitation of natural resources by the government.
-(1990) Oka Crisis
-Recognition of treaty rights (James Bay Agreement 1975 and the Peace of the Braves 2002). There’s a huge hydro dam but they built it on native land and the Natives allowed it. -
Composition of the Population
-French Canadians are still the majority.
-(20th century) Having multiple cultures increases in big cities.
-Diversification of the population since 1945.
