Pre-Confederation Timeline

1. Pre-Confederation Timeline A Brief Look at Canada before Confederation

2. The first Nations 500 A.D. – 1000 A.D. • Various groups of First Nations are scattered across the Continent (Iroquois, Algonquian, Northwest Coast, Arctic) • Aboriginals lived off the land and governed themselves

3. Early Asian and European Exploration 500 A.D. – 1100 A.D. • Possible visits to west coast of North America from Asia and east coast from Europe • Archaeological evidence proves voyages by Vikings

4. Age of Exploration 1450 - 1600 • Europeans searching for trade routes to Asia explore North America and claim land in name of mother countries (Cartier, Cabot, Champlain, Columbus, Hudson) • Mercantilism leads to further colonization of North America • European contact with First Nation changes aboriginal way of life

5. Period of Colonization 1600-1660 • The appearance of colonies on the East Coast on North America (Acadia, Newfoundland) and along the St. Lawrence River (Quebec, Montreal) • First permanent settlement established by Champlain in 1608 • Beginning for the fur trade in North America

6. Period of French Colonial Rule 1663-1759 • Royal Government is established • Seigneurial system of farming • Fur trade grows • Struggle for control between Britain and France 1713-1759 • Battle of the Plains of Abraham 1759 gives control to Britain

7. Period of British Colonial Rule 1763-1931 • Quebec act is passed giving Quebec and New France to the British, changing the government structure to attempt to gain of the favor of the Canadiens

8. Loyalist Migration 1776-1815 • Thousands of British Loyalists living in the 13 colonies begin migrating North during and after the American Revolution • Changes the population of New France drastically • Causes political instability in the colony • Leads to the formation of new colonies (New Brunswick, Cape Breton) separate from Nova Scotia

9. The Constitutional Act 1791 • Quebec divided into Upper Canada (Ontario) where the English speaking majority settled, and Lower Canada (Quebec) where the French speaking majority settled.

10. War of 1812 (1812-1814) • United States of America declares war on Britain in British North America • Decreased American immigration and increased immigration from Britain • Feelings of pride and a sense unity began in Upper and Lower Canada • First Nations are valuable allies, then forced to assimilate

11. Rebellions (1837-1838) • Radicals such as Louis-Joseph Papineau and William Lyon Mackenzie lead rebellions in Lower and Upper Canada to try and over throw corrupt legislative and appointed councils • Rebellions were quickly ended by British but lead to Durham Report which recommends a Uniting the two Canadas, and granting responsible government to the colonies of British North America

12. Act of Union 1841 • In 1841 the Act of Union created the United Province of Canada with a single government with equal representation from Canada West (formally Upper Canada) and Canada East (formally Lower Canada) • Allowed Canada East and West to build railways, expand industry, and increase growth in farming and forestry

13. Mini-Assignment Write one paragraph discussing which of the following events you believe was the most significantfactor in the formationof Canada, and why it was so significant. • European Exploration • French colonial rule • British colonial rule • Loyalist migration • Constitutional Act 1791 • War of 1812 • Upper and Lower Canada Rebellions of 1837 • Act of Union 1841 Feel Free to do some extra research or include other information not discussed in class to support your response.

14. Reminder!! Just a little reminder for you all when your formulating your responses…… There is no such thing as a right or wrong answer…… There’s only………

15. Supported Or Unsupported