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Jun 24, 1497
John Cabot Arrives on the East Coast
In 1497 John Cabot hit shore on Cape Breton Island and claimed it as Newfoundland for England. He spread word of the amount of cod in the area leading to Europeans heading to Canada for fishing. -
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Fur Trade
The fur trade was around in full force for almost 250 years. During this time many French people came to Canada in search of the lucrative business opportunity that was beaver pelts. Men came in troves to trade with Indigenous people and eventually settled to trap their own furs. -
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Beginnings of New France
In 1604 the first Europeans settled in what is now Canada. French Explorers Pierre de Monts and Samuel de Champlain settled on St. Croix Island which is a part of present day Maine. The settlement had 80 odd people. Later on (it's unclear if it was 1604, 1605, or 1606) another settlement was made at Port Royal which is part of current day Nova Scotia. After the establishment at Port Royal in 1608 Champlain built a fortress where current day Quebec city is located. -
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Black Slavery
New France attempted to enslave the Indigenous people, however research showed that the mortality rate of indigenous slaves was 8 years lower than the average African Slave. By 1688 black slavery was in full affect in New France and King Louis XIV petitioned New France to import slaves from Africa to make up for the lack of labour men in the settlements. However in the 1790s when Canada was controlled by Britain slavery became almost nonexistent due to various court laws making it unenforceable. -
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Seven Years War
The Seven Years War was a war between France and Britain in the conquest of global primacy. This conflict also involved the Empire of Spain and Prussia which were heavily affected by the war. When the war ended the French had lost, they gave Canada to Britain with Portugal and Spain as witness which lead to the introduction of more European settlers to Canada. -
Battle of the Plains of Abraham
Also known as the battle of Quebec, this was a turning point in the Seven Years War. General James Wolfe sacrificed his life to defeat the French controlling Quebec. Quebec was then used as a stronghold for incoming British troops to further fuel the war. -
The Loyalist Migration
Once the American Revolution looked to be lost for the British Empire they pulled all their remaining loyalists from New York and sent them to remaining British territories, one of the most prominent being Canada. -
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The Great Migration
The Great Migration was a time where immigration from Europe to Canada spiked, in this time alone ~800,000 immigrants came to Canada, most being British or Irish. -
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Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a way for those who didn't agree with slavery in America to save black slaves and bring them to Canada where they'd be safe. Over the 30 some years the Underground Railroad boosted Canada's African American population by a massive amount. -
Slavery Abolition Act
Although slaves were being ushered across the American border to Canada for may years prior due to the Canada's less intense slavery laws. Black slaves started coming to Canada in troves after the Slavery Abolition Act was created. This act made it so slaves were officially illegal in the British Empire allowing the last few slaves in Canada to be freed. -
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The Great Hunger
Also known as the Great Starvation or the Irish Potato Famine, the Great Hunger was a time where Ireland was struck with mass starvation and disease. Anyone healthy or wealthy hopped on a boat with their family to find a new home. Many of these new Irish immigrants made home in present day PEI, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. -
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Emigration of Continental Europe and the Ukraine
The rising price of wheat and rising cruelty of Ukrainian rulers lead to another great migration of mainland Europe. There many push factors besides the increase of wheat price such as multi-religious acceptance, cheaper farm land, and low taxes which also played huge roles in this migration. -
Chinese Immigration Act
Soon after the completion of the CPR Canada implemented a new immigration law called the "Chinese Immigration Act." This act made it extremely difficult for Chinese immigrants to enter the country by adding a $50 head tax on each Chinese immigrant. This number was later raised to $100 and then $500 making Chinese immigration to Canada slow to a virtual halt. -
Finishing the Central Pacific Railway
The Central Pacific Railway was a promised development to BC when they joined Canada. This railway was built to connect the East and West coasts, making Canada more unified. This Railway also allowed for easier access to more central locations such as current day Saskatchewan allowing for more readily available land and increasing immigration. -
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WWI
The first world war started by the assassination of the Austro-Hungarian heir Franz Ferdinand. The war quickly spiraled out of control and was deemed "the war to end all wars." This of course wasn't the case, but the war did end almost all immigration to Canada for the years it took place.
