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The United States passes the Fugitive Slave Act
A large number of Black people migrate to British North America using the Underground Railroad to escape slavery. -
Period: to
Canada 1850-1914
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Ottawa is selected as the new capital of Canada
Queen Victoria selected Ottawa as the new capital of Canada. The capital of the united Canadas had alternated between Toronto and Quebec City. Ottawa was chosen because of it's location on the Ottawa River, the dividing boundary between Canada West and Canada East. It was also far enough away from the American border to be difficult to reach in the event of an invasion. -
The Charlottetown Conference
The Charlottetown Conference was held in Charlottetown, PEI. At the conference Maritime union was virtually dropped, and the delegates agreed to meet a new conference in Québec to discuss a Canadian scheme for a union of all the colonies. -
The Dominion of Canada is created
In 1867, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario are united to become the Dominion of Canada. -
The Metis establish a provisional government
The Metis establish a provisional government with Louis Riel elected as president. -
The federal government passes the Manitoba Act
The Manitoba Act provided for the admission of Manitoba as Canada's fifth province. It received royal assent and became law on 12 May 1870. -
Treaty 1
The first post-Confederation treaty was signed at Lower Fort Garry, Man. The first of many “Numbered Treaties,” Treaty 1 was signed between the Crown and the Ojibwe and Swampy Cree Nations. The treaty included the provision of livestock, agricultural equipment and the establishment of schools in exchange for ceding large tracts of Indigenous hunting grounds. -
Treaty 2
Treaty 2 was concluded with Chippewa of Manitoba, who ceded land from the mouth of Winnipeg River to the northern shores of Lake Manitoba across the Assiniboine River to the United States frontier. -
Treaty 3
Treaty 3 was signed by the Saulteaux (Chippewa) of northwestern Ontario and of Manitoba. For the surrender of a tract comprising about 55,000 sq. miles, the Dominion Government reserved not more than one square mile for each family of five and agreed to pay $12 per head and an annuity of $5 per head. -
Treaty 4
Treaty 4 was signed at Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan, with Cree, Saulteaux (Chippewa) and other First Nations. -
Treaty 5
Treaty 5 was concluded at Lake Winnipeg ceding an area of approximately 100,000 sq. miles inhabited by Chippewa and Swampy Cree (Maskegon) of Manitoba and Ontario. -
The Indian Act
The Indian Act is introduced. The Act aims to eradicate First Nations culture in favour of assimilation into Euro-Canadian society. -
Treaty 6
Treaty 6 was signed at Carlton and at Fort Pitt with the Plains Cree, Woodland Cree and Assiniboine. It ceded an area of 120,000 sq. miles of the plains of Saskatchewan and Alberta. -
Treaty 7
Treaty 7 was signed at Blackfoot Crossing in southern Alberta by the Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, Tsuut'ina and Stoney. Canadian officials understood that by the treaty First Nations surrendered some 35,000 sq miles of land to the Crown in return for reserves, payments and annuities. -
Arctic Sovereignty
The British sovereignty over the Arctic Islands are passed to Canada. -
Manitoba School Act
The Manitoba School Act abolished publicly funded support for separate schools for Catholics. The aggrieved French minority argued that the Act violated the agreements under which Manitoba entered Confederation. -
Wilfred Laurier becomes Prime Minister
The Liberals defeat the Conservatives with 188 seats to 88. Wilfrid Laurier becomes Canada's first French-Canadian prime minister. -
Treaty 8
Cree, Beaver, Chipewyan and Slavey First Nations ceded territory south and west of Great Slave Lake in northern Alberta to the federal government in Treaty 8. -
Alberta and Saskatchewan join Confederation
Alberta and Saskatchewan entered Canada as the 8th and 9th provinces.