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1500
First Occupants arrival
The First Occupants arrived by the Berring Strait Land Bridge. -
1534
Jacques Cartier - first voyage
Jacques Cartier went to explore the Americas for the king of France. He went to discover new territory, collect resources, and convert as many peoples religions to catholicism. Jacques found a great amount of cod in Newfoundland. -
1535
Jacques Cartier - second voyage
Jacques returns because of the cod he found in Newfoundland. For Jacques Cartier's second voyage, he went down the St-Lawrence river and discovered Hoshelaga and Stadacona. He also met some natives. -
Establishment of First Trading Post
The first trading post was established in Tadoussac in order to centralize trades between Natives and the French. -
Settlement of Quebec
Samuel de Champlain settled Quebec in order to facilitate fur trade with the Amerindians. -
Placement of the Seigneurial System
The seigneurial system was a method of organizing the territory created by the French. The territory was devised into long rectangular strips that were perpendicular to water. It is also key that these strips have access to the water source in order for the land mass to be easily accessible as boats were the main form of transportation. In addition, being close to water allows for fertile land for agriculture. -
Company of 100 associates
The Company of 100 associates are granted a trade monopoly in New France. As a trade off, they're expected to bring over settlers and protect them. There is very minimal expansion of population due to the threat/actual attacks from British at sea. This trade monopoly lasts until 1663. -
Settlement of Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivieres was founded for commercial reasons related to the fur trade. -
Settlement of Ville-Marie
Many important people helped Chomedey de Maisonneuve establish this permanent settlement. In Ville-Marie, Jeanne Mance established her first hospital and Marguerite Bourgeois established the first public school. -
Jean Talon's Immigration Policies
Jean Talon was in charge of the settlement and planning of the territory. Jean Talon increased the population by offering money and free land to the 'Thirty-six Months' (Apprentices who were hired for a 3 year period to become master craftsmen). Also, there was a troop of soldiers called the Carignan Salières that was sent to establish peace with the Iroquois. Soon after, the King sent the Filles du Roy to increase the female population and to get these women to marry. -
Royal Government
Louis XIV is king at the time. His intendant, Jean Talon, takes over the administration of the Colony (New France). Rich merchants were granted a trading monopoly in exchange for financing their own trips to New France. This was great for the merchants because it took away most of their competition. In return, the King of France wanted these merchants to bring settlers with them to New France. This is bad for merchants because they're losing money in order to protect/take care of these settlers. -
British Take Over
7 years war brought an end to New France with the Treaty of Paris. France gave up New France, and New France was ceded to Britain. The 7 years war ended in 1763. The change of government stopped French immigration and lead to the departure of more than 2000 individuals from New France. Most people who left were administrators, officers, traders, and seigneurs (people who can afford to leave). The majority of the population however stayed and had to live under the British rule now. -
British Regime
When the British took over, only the rich french left therefore leaving the rest of the french population in the British colony which equated to about 99% of the colony(British population of 1%). The french in the colony were born there and had no life in France, the colony was their home and since they were mostly farmers or traders, they could not afford to start a new life in France. Soon, wealthy British businessmen arrive in order to take advantage of the highly profitable fur trade. -
The Royal Proclamation
This is the first constitution in the Province of Quebec. It describes the operations of the new british colony. Some characteristics under this constitution would be that there were English criminal and civil laws. Also, new lands were to be divided into townships instead of seigneurial systems. -
Act of Quebec
Scared that the political unrest in the 13 colonies could spill into the St Lawrence valley, the British Parliament placed the Act of Quebec. British authorities wanted to ensure the canadiens loyalty. The province of Quebec was now almost 3 times larger! -
Immigration of loyalists
During the American revolution, people of the Thirteen Colonies who remained loyal to the British Crown left the United States because they were not wanted in the territory. These loyalists therefore moved North where a British colony still was. Many of them settled south of the St. Lawrence River and divided the territory into townships. This region became known as the Eastern Townships. The loyalists settling in the colony helped increase the English population a lot. -
Constitutional Act
This act was passed because of the arrival of the loyalists. The province of Quebec is then divided into 2 parts; Upper and Lower Canada, Each section will have its own religion, laws and land division. -
Rebellions
There are two armed uprisings that took place in Upper and Lower Canada, in 1837 and 1838. They occurred because of economic and agricultural crises. -
Confederation
Under the British North American Act, the provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Nova Scotia join together to create the dominion of Canada. -
National Policy
Prime Minister John A. MacDonald implemented his National Policy. Among other ideas, he wanted to settle the west of the Dominion through immigration. Workers needed to build the railroad as well. -
Immigration Act #1
They allowed immigrants to enter such as; the British, the French, US residents and Asians with family in Canada. -
The Baby Boom
After the second world war, the return of the troops and economic prosperity lead to the growth of the population, therefore, marriages and births increased. -
The White Paper
The White Paper led to a new policy. The criteria of who was allowed entry into Canada, was now based on skills, knowledge French and English, as well as your level of English. This was from 1966-1967 -
Immigration Act #2
Now, they main objectives are to encourage population growth, enrich cultural heritage, facilitate family reunions, facilitate adaptions of new residents into society, select people with non-discriminatory criteria, and to maintain humanitarian attitude towards refugees. The "Bill 101" was also created by the Quebec government to protect the French language in Quebec and made it so that immigrant children had to attend a French school. -
Brain Drain
Starting in the 90's, the most educated and skilled workers left the province to seek better opportunities. Many of the intellectuals moved to the United States to work.
