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key periods and main features of history of Canada, image - Coggle Diagram
key periods and main features of history of Canada
Early History
c. 900 AD
Early Viking visitors
Viking explorers are believed to be the first Europeans to visit North America and establish L’Anse aux Meadows settlement on the island of Newfoundland.
June 24, 1497
First British claim
Italian explorer John Cabot claims the island of Newfoundland for England.
c. 10,000 BC
First Peoples Arrive
Early descendants of Canada's aboriginal people cross the Bering land bridge from east Asia into North America.
July 24, 1534
First French claim
French explorer Jacques Cartier sails into the Gulf of St. Lawrence and claims the Gaspé Peninsula for France. Early attempts to found permanent French settlements fail.
1604
French settlement begins
Explorer Samuel de Champlain establishes first French settlement on St. Croix Island. In 1605, the colony is relocated to Port-Royal.
May 13, 1607
British settlement begins
British explorer Christopher Newport establishes Jamestown as first permanent British colony in North America.
July 3, 1608
Founding of Quebec by Samuel de Champlain
Founding of Quebec City on the St. Lawrence River heralds first permanent French settlement in North America.
May 17, 1642
Founding of Montreal
The city of Montreal, then known as Ville-Marie, is founded by Paul de Chomedey Sieur de Maisonneuve.
18th Century
1702-1713
Queen Anne's War
The North American front in the War of the Spanish Succession sees French and British forces battle for control of Atlantic colonies on the east coast of North America.
July 13, 1713
British take Atlantic Canada
The signing of the Treaty of Utrecht ends Queen Anne's War. France cedes the island of Newfoundland, the colony of Acadia, and its settlements on Hudson's Bay territory to England.
1755
Expulsion of the Acadians
British expel French settlers from Acadia.
Sep. 14, 1752
Calendar switch
Colonies of the British Empire begin using the Gregorian calendar, abandoning the old Julian calendar.
1756-1763
French and Indian War
The North American front in the Seven Years War sees France and England battle for control of New France.
Sep. 13, 1759
Victory on the Plains of Abrahams
The decisive Battle of the Plains of Abraham results in British victory in the French and Indian War.
Feb. 10, 1763
British conquest of New France
Treaty of Paris ends the Seven Years War. France surrenders New France, now known as Quebec, to Britain.
June 22, 1774
Quebec Act
Britain passes the Quebec Act, which permits the the continuation of the French language, legal system and Catholic religion in the former New France.
Dec. 26, 1791
Establishment of Upper and Lower Canada Britain passes Constitution Act, dividing Quebec into two colonies: Upper Canada (English) and Lower Canada (French).
19th Century
1812-1815
War of 1812
War of 1812: Britain and the United States battle for control of eastern North America.
Dec. 24, 1814
U.S. and Britain make peace
The Treaty of Ghent ends the War of 1812. Both Britain and the United States agree to re-establish the "status quo ante bellum" and return to the pre-1812 state of affairs.
March 6, 1834
Toronto founded
The City of Toronto is incorporated.
Aug. 1, 1834Slavery abolished Britain's Slavery Abolition Act takes effect, emancipating all slaves within the British Empire.
Feb. 10, 1841
Upper and Lower Canada reunited
Britain passes an Act of Union unites Upper and Lower Canada into the United Province of Canada with a single parliamentary-style government.
Feb. 19, 1858
Founding of British Columbia
The British Crown Colony of British Columbia is established on the Pacific coast.
July 1, 1867
Dominion of Canada established
The British North America Act takes effect, uniting the former United Province of Canada (now split into Quebec and Ontario) with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and forming a new self-governing colony, the Dominion of Canada. The modern constitution of Canada takes effect.
1870
Canadian money introduced
The Dominion Notes Act is passed establishing a uniform Canadian currency (the Canadian Dollar) across Canada.
May 8, 1871
British army leaves North America
Britain and the United States sign the Treaty of Washington, solidifying peace between their nations and removing all remaining British troops from North America.
April 12, 1876
Indian Act
The Indian Act is passed by the Parliament of Canada, founding the modern system of Indian reservations.
Dec. 21, 1883
Canadian armed forces established
A militia known as the Royal Canadian Regiment is founded as the first permanent regiment of what will become the Canadian Army.
1899-1902
South African War
Canadian troops are sent to fight for the British in the second South African Boer War.
20th Century
1914-1918
World War I
Canadian troops fight under British command during the First World War. Fighting officially ends on November 11, 1918.
June 7, 1917
First women elected
Roberta MacAdams Price of Alberta becomes the first woman elected to sit in a Canadian provincial parliament.
May 24, 1918
Women get the right to vote
Women are granted the right to vote in Canadian federal elections. Provinces follow suit at different times between 1916 and 1940.
Jan. 10, 1919
Canada joins League of Nations
Canada becomes one of the founding members of the League of Nations.
Oct. 29, 1929
Great Depression
A stock market crash in the United States triggers a worldwide "Great Depression"
Dec. 11, 1931
Canadian gets full independence
The Statute of Westminster grants Canada political independence from Britain, including the right to an independent foreign policy.
Sep. 10, 1939
Canada enters WWII
Canada declares war on Germany and sends troops to fight in World War II.
April 4, 1949
Canada joins NATO
Canada becomes one of the founding members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
1950-1953
Korean War
Canadians fight in the Korean War under United Nations command.
Jun. 22, 1960
Quebec's Quiet Revolution
The election of Liberal Jean Lesage as prime minister of Quebec heralds the beginning of Quebec's "quiet revolution" of secularization and modernization.
Oct. 16, 1970
October Crisis
Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau evokes the martial law powers of the War Measures Act to crack down on separatist terrorists in Quebec following the assassination of vice-premier Pierre Laporte.
April 17, 1982
Constitutional independence
Queen Elizabeth II signs the Canadian Constitution Act, transferring control of the former British North America Act — Canada's constitution — to Canada, thereby ending any remaining British political power over Canada. The revised version contains a new Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Mar. 29, 1993
First female premier
Catherine Callbeck of Prince Edward Island becomes the first woman to be elected premier of a Canadian province.
