Summary of Canadian History and Aboriginal Peoples' Impact

Aboriginal Peoples

• Indigenous peoples were referred to as "Indians" by Europeans who mistook Canada for the East Indies.

• Different groups had diverse lifestyles:

  • Huron-Wendat: Farmers and hunters in the Great Lakes region.

  • Cree and Dene: Hunter-gatherers of the Northwest.

  • Sioux: Nomadic bison hunters.

  • Inuit: Subsisted on Arctic wildlife.

  • West Coast Natives: Fish preservation through drying and smoking.

• European arrival had a profound impact:

  • Many Aboriginals died from European diseases.

  • Established economic, religious, and military ties.

European Exploration

• Vikings reached Canada 1,000 years ago, establishing settlements.

• John Cabot (1497): First European to map Canada’s East Coast.

• Jacques Cartier (1534-1542): Claimed land for France, introduced the term "Canada" (Iroquoian for village).

European Colonization

• Royal New France: Established by French explorers in 1604, culminating in a Quebec fortress in 1608.

• Hudson's Bay Company: Founded in 1670, gained trading rights and competed with Montreal traders.

• The Battle of the Plains of Abraham (1759): British victory marked the end of French dominance.

Governance and Democracy

• The Quebec Act (1774) accommodated French cultural practices.

• The Constitutional Act (1791): Created Upper Canada (Ontario) and Lower Canada (Quebec).

• First representative assembly elected in 1758 in Halifax.

Civil Rights Movements

• Abolition of Slavery: Upper Canada moved toward abolition in 1793, and the British Empire abolished slavery in 1833.

• Women’s Suffrage: Gained voting rights starting with Manitoba in 1916; federal level in 1917.

Participation in World Wars

• First World War: Over 600,000 Canadians served, with major victories that helped shape national identity.

• Second World War: More than one million Canadians participated; significant contributions in major battles.

Challenges in Expansion

• Métis Uprising: Led by Louis Riel in response to lack of Métis consultation during territorial expansion.

• The Canadian Pacific Railway was pivotal for connecting the provinces and fostering immigration.

Conflict and Cultural Integration

• Tensions persisted with new arrivals and Indigenous rights, influencing modern Canadian identity and policy.

Post-1776, following the American Revolution, over 40,000 Loyalists, including diverse groups, fled to Quebec and Nova Scotia. Notably, about 3,000 black Loyalists sought better lives in Canada, with some later establishing Freetown, Sierra Leone, in 1792 for freed slaves.