Canadian Citizenship Study Guide Notes

Aboriginal Peoples

• Canada was occupied by native peoples, referred to as Indians by European explorers who believed they reached the East Indies.

• Native populations had varied lifestyles:

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

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

  • Sioux: Nomadic, followed bison herds.

  • Inuit: Depended on Arctic wildlife.

  • West Coast natives preserved fish through drying and smoking.

• Warfare was frequent among Aboriginals due to competition for land and resources.

• European contact brought major changes:

  • Introduced diseases led to significant Aboriginal population decline.

  • Established economic, religious, and military alliances with Europeans that shaped early Canadian history.

The First Europeans

• Vikings settled Greenland and reached Labrador and Newfoundland ~1,000 years ago; l’Anse aux Meadows is a notable site.

• John Cabot (1497): First European to map Canada’s East Coast; claimed land for England.

• Jacques Cartier (1534-1542): Made three voyages, claimed land for France, and popularized the name "Canada" from the Iroquoian word "kanata" (meaning village).

• French Colonization:

  • Samuel de Champlain: Established Quebec City in 1608, allied with Algonquin, Montagnais, and Huron to combat Iroquois.

  • Fur trade economy thrived, driven by European demand for beaver pelts.

Royal New France

• First permanent European settlement in North America was Port-Royal in Acadia (1604).

• French-Iroquois Conflicts: Ended in 1701 after a century of hostilities.

• Prominent leaders in New France included Jean Talon, Bishop Laval, and Count Frontenac.

• The Hudson’s Bay Company was granted exclusive trading rights in 1670, leading to competition with Montreal traders.

• The Battle of the Plains of Abraham (1759) marked the end of French dominance in North America.

  • Notable casualties include commanders Brigadier James Wolfe and the Marquis de Montcalm.

The Province of Quebec

• After the British conquest, the colony was renamed the “Province of Quebec.”

• British efforts to accommodate French Catholics included the Quebec Act of 1774, which allowed religious freedom and reinstated French civil law.

• The act helped preserve the culture and rights of the Canadiens amidst British Protestant rule.

United Empire Loyalists

• Following the American Revolution, many loyal to the British Crown, known as Loyalists, fled to Canada (~40,000 individuals).

• Leaders like Joseph Brant brought Mohawk Indians to Canada seeking refuge.

• The Loyalist population was diverse, leading to a mixture of cultural and religious backgrounds in the newly settled areas.

The Beginnings of Democracy in Canada

• Democratic development was gradual, starting with the first representative assembly in Halifax (1758) and later in other regions.

• The Constitutional Act of 1791 divided Quebec into Upper (Ontario) and Lower (Quebec) Canada, introducing legislative assemblies elected by the populace.

• The term "Canada" became official during this period, referred to as British North America.

Abolition of Slavery

• Slavery's Global Context: Known worldwide, movements to abolish slavery began in the late 1700s.

• Upper Canada: In 1793, became the first province to move toward abolition, with full abolition in the British Empire achieved in 1833.

• Numerous enslaved individuals escaped to Canada through the Underground Railroad, which helped many find freedom.

Economic Development

• Fur Trade: Early Canadian companies formed during French and British regimes, with the Hudson’s Bay Company dominating trade flows.

• The Montreal Stock Exchange opened in 1832, marking the growth of financial institutions.

• Canada's economy primarily hinged on agriculture and resource exports, facilitated by extensive transport networks (roads, lakes, rivers, canals).