Canadian History Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering important terms, concepts, events, and people from Canadian history notes.

Assimilation

The process of absorbing one cultural group into another, often dominant, culture.

Accommodation

Adjustments made between groups to allow coexistence, such as recognizing both French and English languages in Canada.

Annihilation

The deliberate attempt to destroy a group of people, culture, or identity.

Segregation

The enforced separation of cultural groups.

The Royal Proclamation of 1763

British law recognizing Indigenous land rights and requiring treaties before settlement.

Jay’s Treaty (1794)

A treaty between Britain and the U.S. that allowed Indigenous people to cross the border freely.

Upper Canada

English-speaking region, now Ontario, created by the Constitutional Act of 1791.

Lower Canada

French-speaking region, now Quebec, created by the Constitutional Act of 1791.

Oligarchy

Rule by a small elite group, exemplified by the Family Compact and Château Clique.

Colonialism

Control by one nation over another’s land, resources, and people.

Michif

The unique language of the Métis, blending Cree, French, and English.

Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC)

A fur trading company with a royal charter that controlled Rupert’s Land.

The Underground Railroad

Secret routes and safe houses that helped enslaved African Americans escape to Canada.

North-West Company (NWC)

A fur trading rival of HBC, based in Montreal, partnered with French Canadians and Métis.

Heartland-Hinterland Paradigm

A theory that Canada’s economic 'heartland' (central Canada) exploited its 'hinterland' (resource regions).

The Durham Report (1839)

Suggested responsible government and the union of Upper and Lower Canada to assimilate French Canadians.

The Act of Union (1841)

United Upper and Lower Canada into the Province of Canada.

Responsible Government

A system where elected representatives, not governors, control decisions and are accountable to the people.

Rep by Pop

Shorthand for Representation by Population, meaning larger populations should have more seats in government.

Palliser’s Triangle

Dry, semi-arid land in southern Saskatchewan/Alberta, with limited agriculture.

Manifest Destiny

The U.S. belief that expansion across North America was inevitable and justified.

Enfranchisement

Gaining full citizenship and voting rights, which for Indigenous peoples often required giving up their status.

The Gradual Civilization Act (1857)

A law aimed at assimilating Indigenous peoples by encouraging them to renounce their status.

The Enfranchisement Act (1869)

Allowed the government to forcibly enfranchise Indigenous people and impose band councils.

Reciprocity

Free trade agreements, especially between Canada and the U.S.

The British North America Act (1867)

Created Canada as a federation with powers divided between federal and provincial governments.

Rupert’s Land

Territory owned by HBC, later transferred to Canada in 1869.

Canadian National Railway (CNR)

A railway built to unite provinces and open the West; part of the National Policy.

Red River Colony

A settlement in present-day Manitoba, home to many Métis.

Scrip

Certificates issued to Métis for land or money during westward expansion, often leading to land loss.

Manitoba (1870)

Created as a province after the Red River Resistance, with protections for French and English rights.

British Columbia (1871)

Joined Confederation in exchange for a promise of a transcontinental railway.

Chinese Head Tax

A fee charged to Chinese immigrants after railway completion, a form of discrimination.

Batoche (1885)

Site of a key battle in the Northwest Resistance, where Riel’s Métis were defeated.

War of 1812

Conflict between the U.S. and Britain, where Indigenous allies played a major role, boosting Canadian identity.

Pemmican Wars (1812–1821)

Conflicts between HBC and NWC over the Métis pemmican trade.

Merger of HBC & NWC (1821)

The companies merged under the HBC name to end their rivalry.

Rebellions of 1837 & 1838

Armed uprisings in Upper and Lower Canada demanding reform, which inspired the Durham Report.

Fenian Raids (1866–1871)

Irish-American raids on Canada that pressured Britain to strengthen defenses.

Charlottetown Conference (1864)

The first meeting to discuss Confederation.

Québec Conference (1864)

Drafted 72 Resolutions, which became the blueprint for Confederation.

London Conference (1866–67)

Finalized Confederation terms into the British North America Act.

Dominion of Canada

Term for the new nation created by the British North America Act in 1867.

Rupert’s Land Transfer (1869–70)

HBC sold land to Canada; Métis were not consulted, sparking the Red River Resistance.

Red River Resistance (1869–70)

Métis led by Louis Riel resisted Canadian surveyors, leading to Manitoba’s creation.

Pacific Scandal (1873)

Corruption involving railway contracts that led to Macdonald’s government resignation.

The Métis

People of mixed Indigenous and French ancestry; key in the fur trade and resistance movements.

Sir Isaac Brock

British general, 'Hero of Upper Canada,' who died in the War of 1812.

Tecumseh

Shawnee chief who allied with Britain in 1812 and was killed in battle.

Family Compact

An elite ruling group in Upper Canada.

Château Clique

An elite ruling group in Lower Canada.

William Lyon Mackenzie

Leader of the Upper Canada rebellion.

Louis-Joseph Papineau

Leader of the Lower Canada rebellion.

John Lambton (Lord Durham)

Wrote the Durham Report recommending union and responsible government.

Palliser and Hind

Explorers who mapped the Prairies; Palliser identified Palliser's Triangle as poor farmland.

Sir John A. Macdonald

First Prime Minister and architect of Confederation and the National Policy.

George-Étienne Cartier

French-Canadian Father of Confederation.

George Brown

Reform politician who supported Confederation.

Joseph Howe

Nova Scotian politician who initially opposed Confederation.

Louis Riel

Métis leader of the Red River and Northwest resistances.

Thomas Scott

Executed by Riel’s government, angering English Canadians.

Sir Hugh Allan

Financier at the center of the Pacific Scandal.

Outcomes of the War of 1812

Resulted in a sense of unity for British/Canadians, avoidance of U.S. takeover, devastating losses for Indigenous peoples, and continued American expansionism.

Causes of Rebellions (1837–38)

Included oligarchies and a lack of responsible government.

Consequences of Rebellions (1837–38)

The rebellions failed but led to the Durham Report and eventual responsible government.

Canadian Federal Political System

Handles defense, trade, and money, with legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Canadian Provincial Political System

Handles education and health.

Canadian Municipal Political System

Handles local services like water and roads.

Key Events Leading to Confederation

Included fear of U.S. invasion (Fenian Raids, Manifest Destiny), political deadlock in the Province of Canada, and the economic need for intercolonial trade and a railway.

Macdonald’s National Policy (1879)

A policy focusing on protective tariffs, settlement of the West, and construction of the railway.

Red River Resistance Issues

Centered on Métis land rights being ignored and a lack of consultation on land transfer, leading to Riel's provisional government and Manitoba's creation with bilingual protections.

Four Forms of Acculturation

Assimilation (e.g., residential schools), Accommodation (e.g., official bilingualism), Segregation (e.g., reserves), and Annihilation (e.g., smallpox devastation).