Historical Context of Canada

A series of vocabulary flashcards covering key historical events, figures, and concepts related to Canada's history.

Samuel de Champlain

Founded Quebec in 1608, known as the 'father of New France,' and a significant mapmaker.

John A. Macdonald

First Prime Minister of Canada, recognized for the National Policy, the Indian Act, and Confederation.

Louis Riel

Metis leader who founded Manitoba and led the Red River Resistance to secure land rights.

Treaty of Paris (1763)

Ended the Seven Years' War, resulting in France ceding its North American territories to Britain.

British Royal Proclamation (1763)

Establishes the government of the British Empire, forming a foundational document for treaty-making and Indigenous rights.

Seven Years War (1756-1763)

Conflict between British and French interests over colonial land, marking a turning point for British colonial control.

Quebec Act (1774)

Granted political rights to French citizens, allowed Catholicism, and expanded French territorial control.

Pontiac’s Uprising (1763-66)

Indigenous response to French territory loss that led to the British Royal Proclamation acknowledging Indigenous rights.

Atlantic Revolution (1837-1838)

Uprisings inspired by American and French Revolutions advocating for liberty and independence.

Constitutional Act (1791)

Law that split Quebec from Ontario, forming a framework for governance and a multi-party system.

The British North America Act (1867)

Unified Canadian provinces into one country with a federal governance structure.

Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982)

Protects fundamental freedoms, democratic rights, and reinforces Canadian identity as multicultural.

Red River Resistance (1869-70)

Metis-led uprising against land takeover without Indigenous consent, leading to the Manitoba Act.

Kamagata Maru Incident (1908)

Involved 376 South Asian passengers denied entry to Canada under the Continuous Journey Regulation.

Chinese Immigration Act (1923-1947)

Restricted Chinese immigration, following the Head Tax and reflecting government bias against Chinese immigrants.

The National Policy (1878)

Macdonald's economic strategy that imposed tariffs to protect Canadian industries.

Reciprocity Treaty (1854-1866)

First free trade agreement that removed tariffs on Canadian goods for American market access.

War Measures Act (1914)

Allowed government actions during wartime, leading to controversial internment of 'enemy aliens'.

The Burger Inquiry (1975-1977)

Investigated Indigenous input on pipeline projects, ultimately influenced by Indigenous perspectives.

JBNQA (1975)

Canada’s first modern treaty, a joint land agreement between Quebec and Indigenous peoples.

Indian Act (1876)

Established federal control over Indigenous peoples, limiting their rights and instituting residential schools.

Imperial Fictions

Inaccurate territorial claims by Europeans as expressed on maps.

Imperialism vs. Colonialism

Imperialism is the ideology of expansion; colonialism is its practical implementation.

Middle Ground

Framework for understanding Indigenous-European relations based on complex trade and power dynamics.

Multiculturalism

Shift towards recognizing diversity in Canada, formalized in the 1971 Multiculturalism Policy.

Free Trade Debate

Discussion on whether to support internal markets or embrace free trade for larger market access.

Tariffs

Taxes on imported goods to protect domestic industries, serving as an economic nationalism tool.

The North

Resource-rich region critical for Canada’s development, contrasting European and Indigenous perspectives.

Resource Colonialism vs. Settler Colonialism

Resource colonialism focuses on land extraction, while settler colonialism involves land ownership and settlement.