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30,000 BCE
Asian migrations across the Beringia land bridge
The first occupants crossing from the Asian continent coming into North America while crossing a land bridge, made of ice, on the Bering Strait during the last Ice age. -
10,000 BCE
First Aboriginal people in the St. Lawrence Valley
These first occupants established themselves in Quebec and in Ontario arriving after the melting of the ice caps. -
Establishement of the first trading post in New France: Tadoussac
The goal was to centralize trade between Natives and the French. -
Founding of Quebec
Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec in order to facilitate fur trade with the Amerindians. -
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The French Régime
King Henri IV of France asked merchant companies to establish a permanent French presence in North America. In 1608, Samuel de Champlain succeeded in founding the first permanent settlement at Quebec, this was the start of the French Régime. -
Creation of the Company of One Hundred Associates
The Company was founded in 1627 by Cardinal Richelieu. France will grant the Company a privilege: the monopoly on the fur trade. The fur trading company had certain obligations: establish 4000 settlers over the course of the next 15 years, pay the fees to sustain these settlers for 3 years (lodging and feeding the settlers), and grant artisans the right to open up shops in New France. The fur trading companies did not respect their obligations. Later in 1645, the colonisation program was a fail -
Start of the seigneurial system
As of 1627, the land in New France was divided the same way as they were divided in France. The land was divided into seigneuries. Seigneuries are rectangular and perpendicular to the water. -
Founding of Trois-Rivière
Trois-Riviere was founded for commercial purposes related to the fur trade. -
Founding of Ville-Marie (Montreal)
Several important people helped Chomedey de Maisonneuve establish this permanent settlement. In Ville-Marie, Jeanne Mance will establish the first hospital and Marguerite Bourgeois will establish the first public school. -
Arrival of the Carignan-Salières regiment
During the Iroquois threat, the King of France sent over troops from the Carignan-Salières regiment to protect the inhabitants of the colony from the Iroquois. -
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Immigration and birth policies under Jean Talon
To increase population, Jean Talon believed you needed to encourage immigration. He encouraged 4 types of immigrants: the engages, Filles du Roy, volunteers and soldiers. Jean Talon also encouraged allowances to those who had large families and fines or penalties for those who remained bachelors. Immigration and these birth incentives doubled the population of New France in less than 12 years. -
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The British Regime
Between 1760 and 1763, New France's territory was occupied by the English. This period is called the British military rule. Since the Seven Years War wasn't over, New France was not officially a British colony. It is only with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1763 that New France became officially a British colony. -
Treaty of Paris
This Treaty ended the Seven Years War. This Treaty also marks the end of the French régime. -
Royal Proclamation
This is the first constitution of the Province of Quebec. The proclamation 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. These are just some examples. -
The Québec Act
Fearing that the political unrest in the Thirteen Colonies could spill into the St.Lawrence Valley, the British Parliament enacted the Québec Act. British authorities wanted to ensure the loyalty of the Canadiens. This Act allowed french civil laws to return. The collection of the tithe was brought back. The Province of Québec was now almost three times bigger. -
Treaty of Versailles
This Treaty ended the American-British war over the independence of the thirteen colonies. Britain recognized the United States as an independent country. With the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, the size of the Province of Québec was reduced. All territories south of the Great Lakes were lost to the United States. -
The Constitutional Act
This constitution was passed due to the arrival of the Loyalists. The Province of Québec will be divided into Upper and Lower Cannada. Each section will have its own religion, laws and land division. -
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The Aboriginal population
The Aboriginal population of Lower Canada decreased considerably due to the narrowing of hunting areas, epidemics and low birth rate. Also, the assimilation of Aboriginal people is another effect of immigration and the growth of the population of the colony. The nations who live near cities are more likely to be influenced by the Europeans and slowly change their way of life. -
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The population in Lower Canada (19th century)
Between 1814 and 1861, the population of the province of Quebec tripled. This population growth was due to the high birth rate among the francophone population. In the second half of the 19th century, it was risky to give birth in large cities that had rapid urbanization. The infant mortality rate in Montreal was much higher than in the countryside. In 1885, a smallpox epidemic killed more than 3000 in Montreal. Quebec maintained a very high infant mortality rate, up to 1/3 in Montreal. -
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Rebellions
There are two armed uprisings that took place in Lower and Upper Canada in 1837 and 1838. They occurred because of economic and agricultural crises. -
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Emigration to the United States
At the turn of the 20th century, the flow of emigration to the United States that had begun in the 1840s continued at an even greater rate. Several factors prompted Canadians to emigrate south of the border, such as these examples:
-The proximity of the American border facilitated movement
-Wages in large industrial centres in the United States were often more attractive than those offered by Canadians industries. -
Second Phase of Industrialisation
Big cities such as Toronto and Montreal, main junctions of the railway network, became industrial centres. They attracted the surplus population from rural areas which intensified urbanization. Immigrants and peasants were attracted to factory jobs and settled in cities where most of the major industries were located. -
Living Conditions
The living conditions in the city were very difficult. Houses were built quickly in order to satisfy demand. Most houses in working-class districts were row houses. In some areas of Montreal, the population density reached close to 60 000 per km2 in 1901. Waste collection, and the construction of sewers and aqueducs, sanitary facilities were still unreliable. -
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Population increase following World War Two
A baby boom occured right after the Second World War. More than 2 million babies were born during the next 15 years. Furthermore, more than 30 000 immigrants arrived in the Province. -
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The population of Québec
Families are becoming smaller. On average people have 1 or 2 children. Since people make fewer children, the Government fears for the survival of French culture. People also start to have children without getting married. To increase the birth rate, the provincial government has implemented measures to encourage births: the government subsidized daycares, the Québec Parental Insurance Plan and Family allowances for children depending on salary.
