History of Canada By RadoslawW 15,000 BCE Prehistoric hunters cross over into Canada from Asia 1000 Leif Ericsson leads a Viking expedition to the New World 1451 The Iroquois Confederacy is formed 1497 John Cabot reaches Newfoundland (or perhaps Cape Breton) 1534 Jacques Cartier first explores the St. Lawrence region 1608 Samuel de Champlain establishes a French colony at Québec City 1670 Hudson’s Bay Company is formed 1755 Expulsion of the Acadians 1759 Battle of the Plains of Abraham: Québec City is captured 1763 New France is formally ceded to Britain; Pontiac Rebellion erupts 1783 Loyalist refugees begin arriving after the American Revolution Period: 1812 to 1814 War of 1812: U.S. invades Canada Period: 1837 to 1838 Rebellions against British rule in Upper and Lower Canada 1848 Responsible government is won, first in Nova Scotia, then in Canada 1867 Confederation (first four provinces: Québec, Ontario, N.S., and N.B.) 1870 Red River Resistance; province of Manitoba is created 1871 B.C. join Canada 1873 P.E.I. join Canada 1885 North-West Rebellion; the Canadian Pacific Railway is completed 1905 The provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan are created Period: 1914 to 1918 World War I 1916 Women win the vote in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta 1919 The Winnipeg General Strike Period: 1929 to 1939 The Great Depression Period: 1939 to 1945 World War II 1949 Newfoundland joins Canada Period: 1950 to 1953 Korean War 1959 St. Lawrence Seaway (major transportation route) officially opens 1960 Québec’s Quiet Revolution begins; Native Canadians given the vote 1967 Canada’s 100th birthday; Expo 67 World’s Fair in Montréal 1970 October Crisis: political kidnappings, Ottawa suspends civil rights 1980 Québec referendum on “sovereignty-association” defeated 60% to 40% 1982 Constitution comes home — with a Charter of Rights and Freedoms Period: 1982 to 1990 Meech Lake Accord is put forward — and collapses 1992 Charlottetown Accord is rejected by a national referendum 1995 Québec referendum on sovereignty is narrowly defeated 1999 The new Arctic territory of Nunavut is created 2000 Clarity Bill outlines the terms of Québec separation 2003 Canada says “no” to joining the war in Iraq 2005 Former PM Jean Chrétien and sitting PM Paul Martin testify at the Gomery Inquiry 2010 Canada sets record for gold medals at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games