History of

Canada
From European Contact to
Canadian Independence
 Standards

SS6H4 The student will describe the impact of European

contact on Canada.
a. Describe the influence of the French and the English on
the language and religion of Canada.
b. Explain how Canada became an independent nation.
 First Nations
• The First Nations are the native peoples of
Canada.

• They came from Asia over 12,000 years ago.

• They crossed the Bering Land Bridge that
joined Russia to Alaska.

• There were 12 tribes that made up the First

Nations.
 Inuit
• The Inuit are one of the First Nation tribes.

• They still live in Canada today.

• In 1999, Canada’s government gave the Inuit

Nunavut Territory in northeast Canada.
 Early Europeans
• The first explorers to settle Canada were Norse
invaders from the Scandinavian Peninsula.

• In 1000 CE, they built a town on the northeast coast

of Canada and established a trading relationship with
the Inuit.
• The Norse deserted the settlement for unknown
reasons.

• Europeans did not return to Canada until almost 500

years later…
 Newfoundland
• The Italian explorer, John Cabot,
sailed to Canada’s east coast in
1497.

• Cabot claimed an area of land for

England (his sponsor) and named
it “Newfoundland”.
 New France
• Jacques Cartier sailed up the St.
Lawrence River in 1534.

• He claimed the land for France.

• French colonists named the area
“New France”.
 New France (Quebec)
• In 1608, Samuel de Champlain built the first
permanent French settlement in New France
—called Quebec.
• The population grew slowly.

• Many people moved inland to trap animals.

• Hats made of beaver fur were in high
demand in Europe.
 New France (Quebec)
• European fur traders were joined by
French farmers, merchants, and
missionaries from the Catholic Church.

• They brought with them French laws,

traditions, & religion.
• France wouldn’t let anyone move to New
France who was not Catholic.
 The British in Canada
• The British colonized the region south of New
France.
• They saw New France’s success in fur
trapping and wanted to take control of the fur
trade.

• This led to the French and Indian War in 1754.

 French & Indian War
• Great Britain fought for control of Canadian
territory and the fur trade.
• It was Great Britain and the Iroquois Indians
versus France and the Huron Indians.

• Great Britain conquered Quebec in 1754 and

forced France to sign the Treaty of Paris in
1763.
 Treaty of Paris
• This gave Britain control of all lands east of the
Mississippi River, except for 2 islands off the
coast of Newfoundland.

• The British forced Nova Scotia’s French-

speaking people to leave.
• Nova Scotia’s French went to another French
colony – Louisiana.
• Descendants of these people are the
Cajuns.
 American Revolution
• In 1776, Americans gained independence from Great
Britain.
• This initiated a huge cultural change in Canada.

• Americans who did not believe in independence left

America and moved to Quebec.
• These people were called “Loyalists” because they
were loyal to Great Britain.
• As a result, Quebec began to have people who
spoke English as well as French.
 Quebec Act
• Many Loyalists did not want to live among
French-speaking Canadians.
• Cultural difference between the English
speakers & French speakers sparked many
conflicts.

• In 1774, British government passed the

Quebec Act.
 Quebec Act
• The British allowed the French to stay in
Quebec, but continued to control the region.

• The Quebec Act guaranteed the French the

right to maintain their culture (language,
religion, traditions).
 Results
• It gave French Canadians in Quebec the right to
continue practicing the Catholic religion and allowed
French civil law.

• Loyalists were irritated with the new political &

cultural power of the French.
• They could not own land or have representation
in Quebec’s government.

• The differences among the two groups eventually

led to a re-division of the country.
 Division of Canada
• Most English speaking citizens lived
in Upper Canada (Ontario).

• Most French speaking citizens lived in

Lower Canada (Quebec).
 War of 1812
• During this war, the French and British worked
together against the United States, who tried to
invade Canada.

• War resulted in a draw, but it defined the US-

Canadian border & increased a sense of Canadian
nationalism.
• Both French Canadians & English Canadians
joined to protect their land—they were more united
than ever before.
 War of 1812 - After
• French Canadians and British Canadians
realized that they hated being under British
rule.

• They thought that Great Britain was too far

away to understand their economic & political
needs.
 Province of Canada
• In 1837, Canadians began to rebel against British
control.
• Britain sent a government reformer to examine the
Canadian problem.

• As a result of the inquiry, Britain discovered an

economic need to unify the 2 Canadian provinces.

• In 1841, Upper & Lower Canada were united,

establishing the “Province of Canada”.
 British North America Act
• During the 1860s, Canadian leaders discussed the
confederation of all British North American Colonies.

• In 1867, the British North America Act created a federation

union of Canada.
• It joined four colonies (Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, &
Nova Scotia).
• The four colonies became provinces joined by a unifying
constitution.

• Britain accepted the agreement because they were glad to be

rid of the responsibility of protecting the colonies (too
expensive).
Transcontinental Railroad
• The British North America Act allowed each region to
sell goods more easily to one another.
• This improved trade helped the economy.

• Soon there was enough money to build a railroad

across the country.

• The Transcontinental Railroad was built in 1886.

• People could now easily travel from the Atlantic
Ocean to Pacific Ocean.
 Expanding Canada
• When Canada became a confederation in 1867, there
were only 4 provinces.

• Leaders desired to expand the new country from the

Atlantic to the Pacific.
• They bought land from the Hudson’s Bay
Company.

• They thought the purchase would be a simple

process, but problems occurred with the native
peoples.
 Expanding Canada
• Eventually the First Nations (Inuit) agreed to
relocate to reservations (now Nunavut).
• Transcontinental Railroad was built on this
land.

• Soon, 3 new provinces and 1 territory were

created: Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince
Edward Island, and the Northwest Territories.
 Railroad’s Results
• The railroad increased the shipment of goods across
Canada.
• It increased travel from coast to coast.
• It caused the creation of new provinces and
territories.
• The railroad was also the birth of Canadian
nationalism.
• Before the railroad, most people only thought of
themselves as belonging to their province; after,
they felt as if they were part of one country.
 Yukon Gold
• Gold was discovered along the
western coast of Canada in 1896.

• Canada’s government created Yukon

territory in 1898 to meet the needs of
the area’s growing population.
 Saskatchewan & Alberta
1905
• This land was originally part of Northwest Territories, but by
early 1900s, many people wanted this to change.

• Reason 1: The economy had shifted from fur trade to

farming, mining, logging & railway.
• Reason 2: The population grew quickly because of the new
industries.
• Reason 3: The area could not afford everything people
needed (like schools).
• By forming new provinces, they could collect taxes to pay
for these things.
 Canada in WWI
• Canada still had close ties with Britain and felt they
should contribute in the fight against Germany.
• They sent military forces, raw materials, & food to
Europe.

• Canada’s contribution changed the way the world

viewed the country.
• Canada was now a union that was able to compete
with world powers.
• WWI also increased Canadian nationalism.
 Newfoundland - 1949
• Newfoundland joined the country of
Canada because:
• Canada promised to help them by
building many things such as railroads
and roads.
• Britain didn’t want the cost of supporting
Newfoundland anymore.
 Nunavut - 1999
• In the 1970s, the Inuit wanted to create a territory called
Nunavut.

• They wanted their own territory so that they could start

making decisions for themselves.
• They needed their own government.
• They wanted control of their land.
• For many years Canada had used the resources of the
Arctic without asking the Inuit.

• Inuit still live the same way that their ancestors did—they use
traditional methods for survival.
 Standards

SS6H5 The student will analyze important contemporary

issues in Canada.
a. Describe Quebec’s independence movement.
 Quebec’s
Independence
Movement
 Province of Quebec
• Quebec is located in eastern Canada.
• A large part of Canadian industry is centered in
Quebec.
• Many electronics and computer factories are based
here.

• French is the official language of business and

government in Quebec.
• 81% of the people speak French as their 1st
language.
 
 History Review
• Canada was originally colonized by the French (fur
trade).

• Great Britain wanted part of the fur trade, so they

fought & won the French and Indian War.
• They divided Canada into Upper Canada (British)
and Lower Canada (French).
• “Lower Canada” is now called Quebec.

• Canada was united in 1867 with the British North

America Act.
• Quebec is still predominately French.
 
 Early 1900s
• Most French Canadian families had been
living in Quebec for hundreds of years.
• They spoke French & had a different culture
than English-speaking Canadians.
• The majority lived on farms and rarely left
their villages.
• Most French Canadians were Catholic, while
the majority of British Canadians were
Protestant.
 
 A Separate Quebec
• The idea of a separate French Canada spread
slowly.

• At first, most French Canadians did not think

that Quebec needed independence just to be
French.
• By the 1960s, however, thinking had
changed…
• Many French Canadians had become Quebec
nationalists & thought of themselves as
Quebecois, not Canadians.
 
 A Separate Quebec
• By this time, Quebec had changed in many ways…
• Growing populations pushed into farmlands and rural
people grew poor.
• Many chose to leave farms and move to cities.
• Their lives were very different now.
• They stopped going to Catholic churches.
• They no longer led a traditional lifestyle.
• English was spoken in most cities, while French
was not.
 
 Independence
• Many French Canadians felt that their
language and culture might disappear.
• French culture was overwhelmed by English.
• They were tired of feeling like second-class
citizens in their own country.

• Most started to think that Quebec should

secede from Canada (be independent).
• Separatists--want Quebec to “separate” from
Canada.
 
 Separating - Pros
• Those who support Quebec separatism want:

• to protect French language and culture

• to be treated as equals with English-speaking
Canadians
• other Canadians to respect French language
and culture
• to preserve French Canadian culture for
future generations
 
 Separating - Cons
• Those who oppose Quebec separatism
argue that separatism would:
• result in economic disaster for Quebec,
• Ruin national unity and pride, &
• Make the rest of Canada lose all of
Quebec’s natural resources.  
 Let the People Vote
• In 1980 & 1995, the people of Quebec voted
whether or not to secede.
• Both votes were in favor of staying
Canadian.
• Last vote--49.4% voted to secede and 50.6%
voted to stay Canadian…wow!

• Close results showed that the relationship

between Quebec and the rest of Canada will
continue to be a controversial issue.
 
 What Now?
• Canada’s government does not want to allow
Quebec to separate from Canada because
Quebec:
• Is a huge economic help to country,
• Is rich in natural resources, &
• Has access to many waterways (shipping &
trade).
• The government has made several reforms in
an attempt to keep separatists happy.
 
 Reforms
• Canada’s government has passed several laws
to help Quebec’s citizens preserve their
language and culture.
• In 1982, the Constitution Act made Canada
bilingual.
• 1. Two official languages (English & French)
• 2. All government documents must be written
in French & English
 
 In Quebec Today…
• French is the only official language.
• English may be used in advertising, but it
must be placed after the French words, and it
must be smaller font.

• Some people are happy with these changes,

but other people still believe that Quebec
should be independent from the rest of Canada.
 
 Standards

SS6H8 The student will describe the culture and development of

Australia prior to contact with Europeans.
a. Describe the origins and culture of the Aborigines.

SS6H9 The student will explain the impact European exploration

and colonization had on Australia.
b. Explain the impact of European colonization of Australia in terms of
diseases and weapons on the indigenous peoples of Australia.
Australia’s
Aborigines
Origins & Culture
 Aborigines
• Aborigines are the indigenous people of
Australia.
• They have occupied Australia for at least
40,000 years!

• They arrived from Southeast Asia.

• The word aborigines means “people who

were here from the beginning”.
 Early Life
• They developed efficient ways to adapt to the harsh
Australian climate and environment.
• They built containers for storing water and built
wells to collect water underground.
• They were hunters and gatherers: ate animals, wild
nuts, fruits, and berries.
• They were nomadic--moved from place to place in
search of food.
 Early Life
• Archaeologists have found several early Aboriginal
inventions:
• Rock art, boomerangs, ground axes, and
grindstones

• There is no written record of prehistoric Aborigines.

• They kept their history by telling stories that were
passed down from generation to generation.
 Social Structure
• The Aboriginal social structure consisted
of a tribe or “language group” of as
many as 500 people.
• A tribe included bands called “hordes” of
10 to 20 people.
• Hordes joined for daily food gathering
and hunting.
 Where?
• Aborigines originally settled in the same
places as present-day Australians.
• The climate was mild and water was
available.
• Before Europeans arrived in 1788,
around 500,000 Aborigines lived in
Australia.
 Religion
• Aboriginal religion is called “Dreamtime”.
•
• “The Dreaming” is what Aborigines call the
beginning of life on Earth.
• During the Dreaming, spirits created the
land, people, and animals.
• Most of the spirits disappeared, but some
live on in objects.
 Dreamtime
• Aborigines believe the earth is a link to the spiritual
world.

• The land itself is sacred to Aborigines

• For example, Ayers Rock, known as Uluru to the
Aborigines, is a very sacred part of their religion.

• Aborigines have many Dreamtime legends that

describe how the earth was created.
 Aboriginal Art
• Aboriginal art is a tradition thousands of years old!
• The artwork most often depicts Dreamtime
stories.

• The best known forms of Aboriginal art are rock

and bark paintings.

• A more modern tradition is called, Papunya Tula,

the “Dot Art” movement.
 Music
• The didgeridoo is the most famous Aboriginal
musical instrument.
• It is also know as a yirdaki.

• Clapsticks, accompanying the didgeridoo, are

used to keep a song’s rhythm.
• Men played the didgeridoo, while women
played the clapsticks.
 Arrival of Europeans
• Aborigines lived on Australia’s coast,
which is where the Europeans wanted to
settle.

• Europeans waged war against the

Aborigines in order to take their land.
 European Advantage
• The Europeans had guns and soldiers.

• They also spread diseases…

• More than half of the Aborigines in
Australia died.
• The entire Aboriginal population died
in Tasmania.
 What Happened Next?
• The Aborigines were forced to live on reservations in the
Outback.
• They were forced to work for Europeans on sheep and
cattle ranches.
• Laws were made to limit where Aborigines could live and
work.
• Children were even taken away from their parents and sent
to European schools.
• The British hoped to end all Aboriginal culture with their
policies.
 Aborigines Today
• Only 300,000 Aborigines live in Australia today.

• In the 1960s, policies were changed to be more in

favor of Aborigines:
• They can hold a seat in Parliament.
• They can have their own schools which teach
their culture, language, and art.

• Today, they live modern lives, some are teachers,

lawyers, mechanics, nurses, politicians, etc.