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Canadian History
According to Inuit and First Nations tradition, Canada has
been inhabited since the dawn of the time. However, the archaeological evidence discovered
to date suggests circa 24,500 BC for the earliest people in Yukon, and
7,500 BC for southern Ontario.
The earliest contact with Europe,
is believed to have occured around 1000 AD when Vikings from Greenland are known to have reached,
and built a small settlement at, L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, although they only stayed
their for a relatively short period. It is uncertain if this settlement is
Leif Erikson's legendary "Vinland", or was perhaps a stopping point
on the way to Vinland.
The next Europeans to reach Canada were Basque cod fishermen and whalers, who arrived in
the area in the late 15th century, and who established a number of fishing outposts
in Labrador and Newfoundland. In 1497, John Cabot landed in Canada (probably Newfoundland
or Cape Breton Island), and claimed the area for King Henry VII of England. Portuguese
and Spanish expeditions are also known to have also explored the region, but it was the French
who were the first to move inland and to set up permanent colonies (beginning in 1534). Soon afterwards,
the British also began to establish colonies in Newfoundland, southern Nova Scotia
and the Hudson Bay area.
In 1608, the French established Quebec City, and it became capital
of the colony of New France (French: Nouvelle France). Although the colony
was successful at trading, especially the fur trade,
the population of New France remained low (just 60,000 in 1759), because of low immigration,
little support from the mother country, and constant wars with the Iroquois (who were
supported by the British in an attempt to weaken the French).
Britain and
France went to war several times in the 18th century,
and many battles were fought in Canada.
The British usually had the upper hand in the fighting in Canada,
because of their superior navy, greater
financial resources, and
the fact that they controlled territory both to the North (in the Hudson Bay) and to the South (in the
13 Colonies) of the French-controlled areas. As a result in 1763, following the Seven Years' War
(known in the United States as the "French and Indian War"),
France ceded nearly all its remaining territory in North
America to
Britain.
The first half of the 19th century was no easy ride for British rule in Canada.
In the War of 1812, an attempted US invasion was thwarted,
and rebellions against the colonial government took place in 1837. Following these rebellions, a British
government report, the Durham Report, recommended responsible government be granted, and the union of
Upper and Lower Canada. The union was achieved in 1840, and in 1867 a Canadian
federation was formed, the Dominion of Canada.
During 1840s, agreement was reached with the United States
to place the border at the 49th parallel, thus paving the way for Canada's
westward expansion. Colonies were founded in British Columbia and Vancouver
Island in 1848 and 1849 respectively (the two colonies were united in 1866). Manitoba joined the Dominion of Canada
in 1870, British Columbia in 1871, and Saskatchewan and Alberta in 1905.
Canada participated in both World Wars on the Allied side. In World War I,
Canada was legally at war as soon as
Britain declared war. By World War II, the
legal position had changed - the
1931 Statute of Westminister
granted Canada effective independence (although some Constitutional ties with
Britain remained), and
Canada made a separate declaration of war on
Germany, a week after
Britain.
After World War II, Canada expanded once again when Newfoundland
joined the country (Newfoundland was previously a British colony) after a closely fought
referendum. Canada became a key member of the western alliance,
joining NATO, sending troops to fight in the Korean War
(1950
to
1953),
and participating in a joint air defense system with the
United States (NORAD).
Since the 1960s, Quebec has played an increasingly important role in
Canadian politics, although not without controversy (including some demands
for independence), and even violence. The main result of these changes has
been increased recognition of the distinct and unique culture of French
Canada. Another constitutional change, one that took place in
1982,
was "Patriation", the removal of the remaining powers that the British
parliament had to legislate for Canada.
Here are some books about the history of
Canada:
Disclosure: Products details and descriptions provided by Amazon.com. Our company may receive a payment if you purchase products from them after following a link from this website.
Penguin Global
Paperback (432 pages)
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Canada's history, eminent historian Robert Bothwell argues, is more than simply regional or national. In some respects, Canada makes most sense when viewed from the outside in, and in "The Penguin History of Canada" we are invited to do just that. The world has always seen Canada as a terrain for experiment and a land of opportunity. At first Canada's survival and, later, its prosperity depended on links with the world outside - the technologies that drove steamships and trains across oceans and continents; the armies that battled for North America; the furs, wheat, and gold that bought Canada a place in the world's trading system.An uneasy and difficult country, most of Canada's space is uninhabited, and much uninhabitable. It is a country with a huge North but with most of its population in the South, hugging the American border. Canada has nevertheless defied the odds: it remains, in the twenty-first century, a haven of peace and a beacon of prosperity. Erudite yet accessible and marked by narrative flair, "The Penguin History of Canada" paints an expansive portrait of a dynamic and complex country. |
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By Tom Murray
Voyageur Press
Paperback (320 pages)
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Few stories in the annals of railroading are as compelling as the construction, evolution, and astounding successes of the Canadian Pacific and Canadian National railways. This sprawling volume combines two of Voyageur Press' most successful Railroad Color History titles into one volume taking in the grand scope of both railroads. Author Tom Murray presents fastidiously researched and concisely presented histories of each railroad, along with more than 300 photographs, including rare archival black-and-white images and modern and period color photography sourced from national archives and private collections. |
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By Rosemary I. Patterson Ph.D.
Rosemary I. Patterson, Ph.D.
Released: 2009-03-14
Kindle Edition (131 pages)
 | List Price: $6.00*
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It is 1907 in the city of Vancouver and its outskirts in the former English colony of British Columbia. Forces are at work that will change the city from an outpost of civilization to one of the leading cities in the world.
Wealthy entrepreneur Alexander Duncan McRae will utilize his considerable managerial talents, build the largest saw mill in the British Empire and in the process change the nature of Vancouver, B. C. and its people forever. The largest Douglas Fir forest in North America will be cut down on Vancouver Island, transported and processed into lumber. French Canadians will be drawn from Quebec for the labor force of Fraser Mills, and the largest French settlement outside of Quebec, destined to preserve the French culture and way of life in an English dominated province, will come into existence. Sikh, Chinese, and Japanese workers used as laborers in Fraser Mills will endure much hardship but gain a foothold on a future home for their loved ones in what will become the multicultural province of British Columbia.
Rosemary I. Patterson, Ph.D. is a former School Psychologist. Her other Literary Histories include five star Midwest Book reviewed "Aloha and Mai tais," about Hawaiian music and musicians in the 1930's and "Return of the Canoe Societies", about Coastal First Nations people and their history. Her novels have been described as "Intelligent Fiction." Her website is www.canadianauthor.org. |
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By Catharine Parr Traill
New Canadian Library
Released: 2010-08-03
Paperback (336 pages)
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The toils, troubles, and satisfactions of pioneer life are recorded with charm and vivacity in this portrayal of pioneer life by Catharine Parr Traill, who, like her sister Susanna Moodie, left the comforts of genteel English society for the rigours of a new, young land.
From the Paperback edition. |
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By Dorothy Duncan
Dundurn
Paperback (248 pages)
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In Canadians at Table we learn about lessons of survival from the First Nations, the foods that fuelled fur traders, and the adaptability of early settlers to their new environment. As communities developed and transportation improved, waves of newcomers arrived, bringing memories of foods, beverages, and traditions they had known, which were almost impossible to implement in their new homeland. They discovered instead how to use native plants for many of their needs. Community events and institutions developed to serve religious, social, and economic needs from agricultural and temperance societies to Women’s Institutes, from markets and fairs to community meals and celebrations. |
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By Stephen Leacock
Nabu Press
Paperback (156 pages)
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This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. |
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By Constance Backhouse
University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division
Paperback (432 pages)
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Historically Canadians have considered themselves to be more or less free of racial prejudice. Although this conception has been challenged in recent years, it has not been completely dispelled. In Colour-Coded, Constance Backhouse illustrates the tenacious hold that white supremacy had on our legal system in the first half of this century, and underscores the damaging legacy of inequality that continues today. Backhouse presents detailed narratives of six court cases, each giving evidence of blatant racism created and enforced through law. The cases focus on Aboriginal, Inuit, Chinese-Canadian, and African-Canadian individuals, taking us from the criminal prosecution of traditional Aboriginal dance to the trial of members of the 'Ku Klux Klan of Kanada.' From thousands of possibilities, Backhouse has selected studies that constitute central moments in the legal history of race in Canada. Her selection also considers a wide range of legal forums, including administrative rulings by municipal councils, criminal trials before police magistrates, and criminal and civil cases heard by the highest courts in the provinces and by the Supreme Court of Canada. The extensive and detailed documentation presented here leaves no doubt that the Canadian legal system played a dominant role in creating and preserving racial discrimination. A central message of this book is that racism is deeply embedded in Canadian history despite Canada's reputation as a raceless society. Winner of the Joseph Brant Award, presented by the Ontario Historical Society |
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