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Hudson Bay Company
The founding of the HBC! The Explorers Pierre-Esprit Radisson and Medard Des Groseilliers convinced Charles II of England that with his support, they could help England be competitive in the fur trade. Getting all the land around Hudson Bay for England, Charles gave the HBC a charter giving trading rights in all lands drained by rivers flowing into the Hudson Bay. It was know as Rupoerts Land -
Black Loyalitsts immigrate to Canada
1776-1783 Black Loyalists immigrate to Canada. This is important because it shapes our culture today. -
North West Company
1783 was the found of the NWC. formed by merchants living in Montreal. The partnership put the inland trading posts under control of one company, in Montreal. They built Fort William on Lake Superior for trading. -
Constitutional Act
The constitutional act creates Upper and Lower Canada. Giving it elected law-making leislative assembly, a governor, and 2 councils. -
Metis
These were French Canadian fur traders who have spent their winters in the northwest ever since the early 1700's. They would spend time with local first nations and traders would marry the daughters of local first nation families. First nation women and free choice to whom they wanted to marry. -
Metis settle in Red River
In 1810 many Metis settled in the Red River Valley. This was near the junction of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers which is now southern Manitoba. The metis found a way of life with a unique combination of First nation and European traditions. -
Selkirk Settlement
Lord Selkirk felt he could help both tenant farmers and the HBC by creating a farming colony, know as the Selkirk Settlement, in the Red River Valley. Farmers would be able to maintan their way of life in a new land , and the HBC would have a source of farm product to supply its operations. -
War of 1812 - 1815
US declared war on Britain and the Colonies because of trade and other issues. It was an act of agression towards Canada. Canada returns the favor by burning down the White House. -
Louis Joseph Papineau
Louis-Joseph Papineau is elected to the legislative Assembly of Lower Canada. He joined in cause to reform. He became speaker, leader of Parti Canadiens, which lobbied for reform. -
Pemmican Proclamation
Miles Macdonell feared crops would fail for a second year, so he made the Pemmican Proclamation. This banned the sale and export of pemmican from the Red River Valley for one year. It was to protect the colonists from the pemmican trade. It made the Metis furious. The Metis heavily required pemmican for their way of life. -
Immigration
The immigrants came to British North America and Lower Canada at the close of the war of 1812. Most settled in Upper Canada, but some settled in Lower Canada's easters townships, between Quebec and Montreal. The immigrants mostly came from Great Britain or the United States, but some did come from European countries. -
Migration to the country
Immigrant’s settled in Lower Canada’s Eastern township in 1815. They came from Great Britain or the United States. The European countries were attracted by the whole spread of land buyers who were wooed by promises of cheap and fertile land, close to towns and markets. People spent all their money on the trip and on supplies for a life or two in colonies. The poor had to come on coffin ships under the steerage where there were diseases and death. -
Battle of Seven Oaks
A party of Metis which was led by Cuthbert Grant raided many HBC York boats on Assiniboine River. A large supply of pemmican was taken. Rubert Semple, who was the new governor of Red River Colony, and 28 men went to confront the Metis. Semple and 20 of his men were killed, only 1 Metis was killed. This was know as the Battle of Seven Oaks, or the Victory at Frog Plain to the Metis. -
NWC (North West Company)
The North West Company was a fur trading business headquartered in Montreal from 1779 to 1821. It competed with increasing success against the Hudson's Bay Company in what was to become Western Canada. With great wealth at stake, tensions between the companies increased to the point where several minor armed skirmishes broke out, and the two companies were forced to merge. -
HBC & NWC merge
The HBC and NWC merge into one company. The new HBC
controlled 55% by
the old NWC partners, and 45% by the old BNC partners. British governet extended its monopoly over most of modern Canada. 1825 Tomtreal pertners sold shares back to HBC. Both companies were suffering financially. -
William Lyon Mackenzie
Wialliam Lyon Mackenzie establishes the Colonial Advocate -
Rebellion in Upper and Lower Canada
The Rebellions of 1837 were two armed uprisings that took place in Lower and Upper Canada in 1837 and 1838. The rebellions were motivated by problems in political reform. A key shared goal was responsible government, which was eventually achieved in the aftermath of the rebellions.The rebellion in Lower Canada began first, in November 1837. The Lower Canada rebellion probably inspired the much shorter rebellion in Upper Canada in December. Mackenzie led Upper, Papineau led Lower -
John Lambton (Lord Durham)
John George Lambton was a British Whig statesman, colonial administrator, Governor General and high commissioner of British North America. Lord Durham was sent to the Canadas in 1837 to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Lower Canada Rebellion and the Upper Canada Rebellion which had both occurred earlier that year. His detailed and famous Report on the Affairs of British North America recommended a modified form of responsible government and a legislative union. -
Lord Durham's Report
The Durham Report was completed January 1839 and officially presented to the Colonial Office 4 February 1839 by John George Lambton. A known reformer, Lord Durham had been appointed governor general to investigate colonial grievances after the rebellions of 1837. -
Act of Union
Upper and Lower Canada united to make United Canada with Montreal as the Capital. The Act of Union declared all goverment documents to be in English, which created problems that even exist today. Many French Canadians are still unhappy about it today. -
Lord Elgin
British government appointed James Bruce, Lord Elgin, as Governor General of Canada. SInce he is Lord Durham's son in law, Elgin shared some of Lord Durham's ideas to reform. His main job was to put in a responsible government. -
Oregon Territory
!835, HBC and the Russians agreed on a boundary at 54 40' N.
The Agressive Americans claimed everything up to 54 40' N, some believed in 54 40' or fight" which meant they wouldnt settle for anything less. They sent many to live in Oregon Territory. 1846 the US and Tritish agreed on 49 as the permanent boundary, which was split down the middle. -
Rebellion Losses Bill
The Rebellion Losses Bill promised compensation to people of Canada East who had suffered property damage during the 1837 Rebellion. Even some of the rebels, unless they have been convicted of treason. -
Riciprocity Treaty
The Reciprocity treaty is signed with the US. It is an agreement which provides for free trade between the United States and the British Colonies. -
Gradual Civilization Act
Canada passes the Gradual Civilization Act, which was meant to assimilate Aboriginal people by making them a citizen of Britain. If they were already a Britian citizen, they would not get the treaty rights or first nations protected status. -
British Columbia
The Colony of British Columbia is Created! -
Colony of BC is formed
The colony of British Columbia was created on the mainland, which extended from the 49th parallel to 54 40' N. Doughlas was made the governor, and the Colonial Office sent a Contigent of Royal Engineers. -
Gold in BC
1857 gold was discovered on Thompson River. By 1858, there were 10 000 miners that were mostly Americans that came panning for gold along the lower Fraser River. British authority was asserted in the region. Goverenment made Douglas the governor of the new colony, British Columbia, that encompassed the mainland up to 54 40' N. -
Cariboo Gold Rush
Gold deposits in lower Fraser diminished, so miners moved north to look in the smaller creeks that fed the fraser. Douglas decided to build a road to the Cariboo (Central BC): Gives transportation route for miners, suppliers, and settlers, and makes sure gold leaving BC could be taxed. Road was from Yale 650km north through Fraser Canyon to Barkerville. It took 4 years and $750 000. Some Americans "bush wacked" to get back to America so they wouldnt have to pay tax. -
Smallpox Epidemic
Spring 1862, a San Francisco miner brought smallpox to Victoria. It spread very quick, and First Nation villages were quarantined. On Haida Gwaii, over 70% of the population died in the summer of 1862, and villages that were around for a long time were empty. An estimation of half of the coastal first nations population was wiped out. -
Great Coalition
Geogre Brown joined John A. Macdonald and George-Etienne Cartier in the forming of the Great Coalition to promote Confederation in Canada. -
Quebec Conference
Detailes were layed out and a new county emerged. The provinces would maintain many powers (a federation), but the national goverenment was weaker than Macdonald had hoped. The conference produced the 72 Resolutions which was a blueprint for Canada. -
Charlottetown Conference
September 1864 the Charlottetown Conference is held. This was the first of a few. It was intended to be a conference for the premiers of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. Macdonald, Brown, and Cartier, who were the memebers of the Great Coalition are accompanied by land speculators and Alexander Galt were asked to join to discuss their plans for Confederation. They all agreed to have another conference in Quebec to work out the details. -
American Civil War
The American Civil War started 1861 and ended in 1865. The army which claimed victory of the northern states could have invaded Canada because they had more soldiers than population in Canada. Britain supported the south during the war, further angering the North. -
BC and Vancouver Island are joined
Gold ran out in BC. Many people left BC and revenues fell. Both colonies had a lot of dept. It made sense that Vancouver Island and BC be joined together into one colony. In 1866, the two came together as one colony known as British Columbia. -
British North America Act
The BNA act was passed by the Parliament of Britain which created the country of Canada. Canada's birth of a nation is very different compared to the US, which independently declared itself a nation, and made its own rules for goverenment. The BNA act was mainly written by Canadians and was based on the Quebec Act, it still recognized the supreme authority of the monarch. Canada was now a dominion. -
Canada Buys Ruperts Land
John A. Macdonald was interested in creating a dominion of Canada, which stretched from coast to coast (sea to sea). HBC realized ruperts land was getting to expensive so they gave up control. Canada reaches a deal and Ruperts Land was joined with the North Western Territory. It was renamed North West Territories. Canada gave HBC $1.5 million, 2.8 million hectares of farmland, and the right to continue the fur trade with a monopoly. -
Red River Resistance
Many tensions in Red River. Settlers were angry, so Louis Riel organized bands of Metis to confront the surveyors. -
Metis National Committee
Group formed by Riel to fight for Metis concerns about their land. They told the new governor, William Ncdougall, to go back to Ottawa because they intended to govern themselves. They Occupied Fort Garry and seized its munitions. -
Manitoba is Created
Manitoba enters confederation. There were many tensions going on. John A. Macdonald granted 200 000 hectares to the "children of the Metis." May 12, 1870, legislation creating the province of Manitoba which was passed by the House of Commons. -
Treaty process with First Nations
Canadian government began a treaty process with the First Nations of the Prairies. An indian commisioner (Wemyss Simpson) went to Mantiba to start talks with the Cree and Anishinabe. Natives wanted more control over their land, but Simpson didnt want to give it to them. August 1871, Treaties 1 and 2 covering southern part of Manitoba were signed. -
BC joins Confederation
Joining into one colony didnt solve financial problems. In 1869 Anthony Musgrave became governor of BC, he was a friend of Macdonalds and pushed hard to get BC into Canada. July 20, 1871, BC joins confederation, where Canada took BC's dept, and Canada agreed to connect BC to Canada with the CPR. -
CPR Survey
It was very difficult to get through the Canadian shield, so they had to survey much of the land. Many surveyors were sent out into British Columbia who all brought back valuable information. There were many disagreements debating were it should be which was know as "the Battle of the Routes." They favoured one route
that ran through the Homathco River Valley to Bute Inlet and across a bridge to Vancouver Island. No final decision was made. -
Pacific Scandal
In order to get money for an election compaign, John A. Macdonald promised Allen the contract to build the railway. This was see nas corrupt and unethical, Macdonalds goverent resgned in 1873 -
North West Mounted Poice (MWMP)
The North West Mounted Police were formed to drive out the American whiskey traders and claim the area for Canada. The NWMP were initially accepted by the natives. -
Cypress Hill Massacre
Group of Assiniboin natives were attacked by whisky traders in what is now known as southern Saskatcherwan. 30 Assiniboin were killed. The Canadian government decided to increase the number of NWMP by 300 officers to keep law in order. -
The National Policy
Macdonald and the conservatives won the 1878 elction and began to bring in the national policy: Protective Tariffs - Protect Canadian manufacturing, mining, and agriculture. Western Settlement - Encourged farmers to settle on Prairies, produce grain to export and earn money, market goods produced in East Canada. The Canadian Pacific Railway - Rail link to the west was critical for exchange of goods. -
Canadian Pacific Railway
William Van Horne was the general manager of the CPR. He made it efficient, completed the work at a faster pace than anyone else, and completed the rail by fall 1885 (5 years ahead of schedule). There was 35000 workers at a time with terrible working/living conditions. CPR was very good for transportation and trade. -
Vancouver is Terminus
1868, Gassy Jack opened a saloon eventually becoming Gastown. In 1884, William Van Horne came over and chose Gastown as the terminus of the CPR and named it Vancouver. 1885 CPR was completed, 1890, there was a population of 5000. -
Chinese Railway Builders
Once the railway was complete, many chinese couldnt afford to go back to China like they originally planned. They had been misled about deductions from their wages and the cost of food/equipment. Many moved to Vancouver and Victoria looking for work. -
Uprising in Northwest
1884 Riel comes to Canada to help the Metis stand up for their rights. 1885 adressed metis, telling them a peaceful solution was impossible ("Justice demands that we take up arms"). This started the rebellion. There were battles at Duck lake, Fish Creek, and Batoche. The NWMP outnumbered the Metis, even though the metis were committed fighters, they still lost. Riel surrendered May 15, 1885 -
Louis Riel is Executed
He was taken to Regina and charged with High treason (punishable by death). He pleaded his case of the Metis people saying the governemnt forced them to. He was found guilty for treason, the judge and jury recommended clemency (mercy), but the government refused. He was hung November 16, 1885 -
Manitoba Schools Question
Manitoba created an English only school system (Most Manitobans were now English speaking). This violated the Manitoba Act. Prime Minister Tupper failed to support the French, Laurier and the liberals were voted for. Laurier reached a compromise in Manitoba but French language still declined. -
The Klondike Gold Rush (Yukon Gold Rush)
Gold was discovered along the Klondike River.Many miners and settlers came which helped the developement in western Canada, Alaska, and Pacific Northwest. NWMP set up customs houses at the top of passes to enforce that regulation, charge duties on imported goods, and prevent handguns from entering Canda. -
The Last Best West
1896-1914, Laurier encouraged immigrants to come to Canada. They needed wheat farmers. Prairie lands swelled with settlers. Clifford Sifton made a recruitment to attract newcomers to prairie homesteads. Targeted eastern and central Europeans- Ukrainians, Russians, Rumanians, Austrians. The population doubled during this time. -
South African War (Boer War)
Canada's involvement in the war split the country along French English lines. Many Britains went to Africa to extend control, the Boers saw it was seizure and declared war on Britain. Laurier tries to compromise by sending only volunteers, in total 7300 and spent $3 million. -
Asiatic Exclusion League
People against asian immigration formed this group in BC in the 1900's. They had riotsin Vancouver that destroyed the Chinese and Japanese businesses. Laurier condemned the riots. The government ended up limiting the number of Asian immigrants. -
Alaska Boundary
1867, USA bought Alaska, but nobody cared until gold was found in the Yukon. Easiest way was by sea to skagway, and then overland to the Yukon. Skagway was inside disputed territory, Canada and US claimed the coastline (inlets, fiords). If it went to Canada they would have access to Yukon, but if it went to US, Americans would control access to Canada's gold field. 1903, international tribunal determined the outcome of this dispute. The British ignored the Canadians and gave most to the American -
Alberta and Saskatchewan become Provinces
Alberta and Saskatchewan joined confederation as the 8th and 9th provinces. Canada was now a nation which stretched coast to coast. Takeover by US was still one of the concerns, Independence from Britain was still one of the goals. -
Limit Asian Immigrants
Frank Oliver replaced Clifford Sifton as Minister of the Interior. He introduced selective immigration policy that aimed at restricting Chinese, Japenese, and East Indian Immigration. -
Closing Door to Immigration
Clifford sifton had an open door policy because new immigrants provided inexpensive labour. Many opposed this. Labour organizations, British Canadians, French Canadians, and also British Columbians all were against the open door policy. Asians accepted lower wages compared to other workers. -
Residential Schools
The government tried to assimilate natives by removing native children from their families and puting them in residential schools. Over 60 residential schools, mostly Christian. Spoke english and taught Christian faith. The Native language and customs were not allowed which had a very big impact on the preservation of the native culture. -
The Komagata Maru
Sikh businessman chartered a ship to take 354 sikhs to Vancouver, they traveled to Hong Kong, China, and Japan. Canadian authorities put the ship in quarantine so its passengers couldn't land. Sikh supporters said the continueos passage rule was invalid. After 2 months in the harbour, the ship was escorted out of the Vancouver harbour.
