1. Indigenous peoples before the arrival of Europeans
- •Cultural diversity: Indigenous peoples lived by hunting, gathering, agriculture, or fishing depending on their region (e.g., Cree and Dene = hunter-gatherers; Huron-Wendat = farmers)
- •First contact: Europeans call them "Indians", believing they had reached the Indies
2. Impact of European colonization
- •Diseases: Indigenous people die in large numbers due to European diseases (smallpox, flu)
- •Alliances and conflicts: Economic and military relations with Europeans (fur trade), but also territorial wars
3. Exploration and New France (1534–1763)
Key explorers:
- •Jacques Cartier (1534–1542): Explored the St. Lawrence River; the word kanata (village) gives Canada its name
- •Samuel de Champlain (1608): Founder of Quebec, ally of the Algonquins and Hurons against the Iroquois
4. New France
- •French Empire: Extended from Hudson Bay to the Gulf of Mexico
- •Fall of New France: The British win the Battle of the Plains of Abraham (1759) against the French
5. Canada under British rule (1763–1867)
The Quebec Act (1774):
- •Protects the rights of French Canadians (religious freedom, French civil law)
6. The War of 1812
- •The United States attempts to invade Canada but is repelled by the British, Canadian militias, and Indigenous peoples (e.g., Chief Tecumseh)
7. Rebellions of 1837–1838
- •Revolts in Upper Canada (English-speaking) and Lower Canada (French-speaking) for more democracy
- •Lord Durham recommends responsible government (1848)
8. Confederation (1867)
- •July 1, 1867: Creation of the Dominion of Canada with 4 provinces (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia)
- •Fathers of Confederation: John A. Macdonald (1st PM), George-Étienne Cartier (Quebec)
9. Expansion to the West
- •Métis Rebellions (1869 & 1885): Louis Riel defends Métis rights; executed in 1885
- •Transcontinental railway (1885): Symbol of national unity (CPR)
10. Canada in the World Wars
First World War (1914–1918):
- •Battle of Vimy (1917): A marked Canadian victory
- •60,000 Canadians killed
11. Second World War (1939–1945)
- •D-Day (1944): Canadians land on Juno Beach
- •Internment of Japanese Canadians (apologies in 1988)
12. Social and political evolution
- •Women's right to vote: Manitoba (1916), federal (1918), Quebec (1940)
- •Economic crisis: Great Depression (1930s) → creation of the Bank of Canada (1934)
13. Symbols and heritage
- •Maple leaf: Symbol of Canadian soldiers since 1850
- •Remembrance Day (November 11): Tribute to veterans with In Flanders Fields
14. Conclusion
Canada was built through:
- •Indigenous history
- •French and British colonization
- •Conflicts
- •A progressive democratic evolution