Canadian History Timeline By MissDiaz 1000 Leif Erikson discovered Newfoundland 1497 Cabot claimed Newfoundland for England 1700 France and England claimed parts of Canada 1763 France surrenders territory to British after French and Indian War 1791 British split Canada into Upper Canada and Lower Canada 1867 Dominion of Canada was created 1871 With control of Rupert's Land, Canada went from Atlantic to Pacific 1885 Canadians transcontinental railway completed 1931 Canada independent from Britain