Chapter 5

The Early History of Canada

Lesson 1Lesson 1

Early ExplorationEarly Exploration

One thousand One thousand years ago, years ago, people who people who lived in one lived in one area knew very area knew very little about the little about the rest of the rest of the world.world.

The earliest European explorers were the Vikings.

They lived in the They lived in the part of Europe that part of Europe that is today called is today called Scandinavia.Scandinavia.

The Vikings were The Vikings were known throughout known throughout northern Europe northern Europe as great warriors as great warriors and sailors.and sailors.

A Viking Sailing Ship

Much of what we Much of what we know today about know today about their adventures their adventures comes from comes from sagassagas..

L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland

Farm Under the Sand, Western Settlement, Greenland

Historians have Historians have come to believe that come to believe that the Vikings were the the Vikings were the first Europeans to first Europeans to reach the Americas, reach the Americas, about 1,000 years about 1,000 years ago.ago.

A Viking named Eric A Viking named Eric the Red and his the Red and his crew set sail from crew set sail from Iceland and landed Iceland and landed on an island that he on an island that he named Vinland.named Vinland.

It was called It was called Vinland because of Vinland because of the abundance of the abundance of green vines found green vines found there.there.

Twenty years later, Twenty years later, Leif Ericson founded Leif Ericson founded the island now the island now called called Newfoundland.Newfoundland.

Fierce battles took Fierce battles took place between the place between the Indians and the Indians and the Vikings as a result Vikings as a result of a land dispute. . . of a land dispute. . . . .

The Vikings The Vikings eventually eventually abandoned abandoned their their settlements in settlements in North North America.America.

Almost 500 Almost 500 years passed years passed before before Europeans took Europeans took up an interest in up an interest in sailing across sailing across the Atlantic.the Atlantic.

Three reasons:Three reasons:

1. Better ships 1. Better ships

2. Better 2. Better instrumentsinstruments

3. Desire to trade 3. Desire to trade with Asiawith Asia

What was in Asia?What was in Asia?

Silk, spices, Silk, spices, perfume, diamonds, perfume, diamonds, spices, rubies, spices, rubies, pearls, and spices!pearls, and spices!(Did we mention spices?)(Did we mention spices?)

Traders knew of only Traders knew of only two routes to Asia, two routes to Asia, both of which were both of which were very long and very long and dangerous.dangerous.

Some people Some people thought that if they thought that if they sailed west, instead sailed west, instead of east, they could of east, they could also reach Asia.also reach Asia.

The first European The first European to attempt this route to attempt this route was Christopher was Christopher Columbus.Columbus.

(But he reached the Americas (But he reached the Americas instead of Asia.)instead of Asia.)

Later, other explorers Later, other explorers began to hope that began to hope that they could find an all-they could find an all-water route to Asia by water route to Asia by traveling along the traveling along the north coast of North north coast of North America.America.

Although none of Although none of them ever found them ever found this this Northwest Northwest PassagePassage, they , they were able to were able to explore much of explore much of Canada.Canada.

English ExplorationEnglish Exploration

(1497)John Cabot, (1497)John Cabot, an Italian, reached an Italian, reached Vinland. He Vinland. He renamed it renamed it Newfoundland.Newfoundland.

French ExplorationFrench Exploration

(1524) Giovanni da (1524) Giovanni da Verrazano Verrazano established French established French claims to land in claims to land in Canada.Canada.

(1534) Jacques (1534) Jacques Cartier explored Cartier explored the St. Lawrence the St. Lawrence River and founded River and founded the present-day the present-day city of Montreal.city of Montreal.

Lesson 2Lesson 2

Settlements and Settlements and ColoniesColonies

Many European Many European fishing boats fished in fishing boats fished in the Grand Banks, an the Grand Banks, an area near area near Newfoundland that Newfoundland that was teaming with fish.was teaming with fish.

Europeans living in Europeans living in Canada traded with Canada traded with the Indians knives the Indians knives and kettles for fur and kettles for fur pelts.pelts.

Hats made out of Hats made out of beaver fur were all beaver fur were all the rage back the rage back home in Europe!home in Europe!

The king of The king of France sent France sent Samuel de Samuel de Champlain to Champlain to start a colony in start a colony in Canada in the Canada in the early 1600’s.early 1600’s.

In 1608, Champlain In 1608, Champlain established the established the settlement of settlement of Quebec.Quebec.

Quebec was the Quebec was the beginning of the beginning of the first French colony first French colony in North America, in North America, which was called which was called New France.New France.

Because of his Because of his hard work, hard work, Champlain Champlain became known as became known as the “Father of New the “Father of New France”.France”.

The French The French would not would not allow anyone allow anyone to move to to move to Quebec that Quebec that was not was not Roman Roman Catholic.Catholic.

Also, people Also, people were not used were not used to the area’s to the area’s climate and climate and farming was farming was difficult.difficult.

Champlain was the Champlain was the first European to first European to see the Great see the Great Lakes.Lakes.

Most of the traders Most of the traders who ran the who ran the Canadian trading Canadian trading posts were French.posts were French.

The British formed The British formed the Hudson’s Bay the Hudson’s Bay Company, which Company, which spread quickly, spread quickly, establishing posts establishing posts all along Hudson all along Hudson Bay.Bay.

Some European Some European trappers lived in the trappers lived in the forests with the forests with the Indians. They were Indians. They were called called coureurs decoureurs de boisbois, “wood , “wood runners”runners”

These These scouts scouts learned learned from the from the Indians. Indians. They They learned how learned how to use to use birchbark birchbark canoes.canoes.

The French The French voyageursvoyageurs carried carried the traders’ goods the traders’ goods from the forests.from the forests.

The strong voyageurs The strong voyageurs paddled down paddled down Canada’s swift rivers, Canada’s swift rivers, carrying their canoes carrying their canoes and cargo over each and cargo over each portageportage, or land , or land route.route.

In 1642, the In 1642, the colony of Montreal colony of Montreal

was founded.was founded.

Montreal became Montreal became the center for the center for missionariesmissionaries from from France.France.

The French The French hoped to hoped to convert the convert the Indians to Indians to Christianity.Christianity.

Montreal served as Montreal served as a missionary center a missionary center for many years. It for many years. It also became an also became an important base for important base for fur traders and fur traders and explorers.explorers.

Lesson 3: Lesson 3:

Colonies in ConflictColonies in Conflict

By the 1700’s, By the 1700’s, Canada was a land Canada was a land of many cultures.of many cultures.

FrenchFrenchBritishBritish

HuronHuron

IroquoisIroquois

In the late 1600’s In the late 1600’s and early 1700’s the and early 1700’s the French and British French and British frequently fought frequently fought over land and over land and competed for the fur competed for the fur trade.trade.

In 1754 war In 1754 war broke out in the broke out in the

Ohio River Ohio River Valley, an area Valley, an area claimed by both claimed by both

France and France and Britain.Britain.

The war became The war became known as the known as the rench andrench and

Indian WarIndian War because because the French and the the French and the Huron banded Huron banded together against the together against the British.British.

British troops British troops surrounded New surrounded New France, using a France, using a blockade to keep blockade to keep food and other food and other supplies from supplies from entering the colony.entering the colony.

James Wolfe was James Wolfe was one of the officers one of the officers

for the British army.for the British army.

General Louis de General Louis de Montcalm was with Montcalm was with the French army.the French army.

The Battle of the The Battle of the Plains of Abraham is Plains of Abraham is considered the most considered the most decisive in Canadian decisive in Canadian history. This battle history. This battle lasted only ten lasted only ten minutes!minutes!

By 1763, France had By 1763, France had given up all of its given up all of its claims to land in claims to land in North America.North America.

In 1774, the British In 1774, the British passed the Quebec passed the Quebec Act, which Act, which guaranteed the guaranteed the French the right to French the right to maintain their own maintain their own culture.culture.

Thousands of Thousands of French-speaking French-speaking people were forced people were forced by British soldiers to by British soldiers to leave Nova Scotia, leave Nova Scotia, then called Acadia.then called Acadia.

These Acadians These Acadians refused to pledge refused to pledge loyalty to the British loyalty to the British crown. Some crown. Some Acadians went to Acadians went to the area around the area around present-day present-day Louisiana.Louisiana.

Today, their Today, their descendants are descendants are called “Cajuns”.called “Cajuns”.

In 1776, the In 1776, the United States United States became became independent independent of Great of Great Britain.Britain.

LoyalistsLoyalists, colonists , colonists who had remained who had remained loyal to Britain had loyal to Britain had often been forced by often been forced by the rebels to leave the rebels to leave their homes.their homes.

Many loyalists Many loyalists migrated to Canada migrated to Canada during and after the during and after the American American Revolution.Revolution.

Many Loyalists did Many Loyalists did not want to live not want to live among French-among French-speaking Canadians.speaking Canadians.

Est-ce que vous parlez en Francais?

Huh?

Non, il a’ arrive’ a L’Angleterre.

In 1791 Britain In 1791 Britain divided the former divided the former colony of New colony of New France into two France into two colonies, Lower colonies, Lower Canada and Upper Canada and Upper Canada.Canada.

Most English-Most English-speaking settlers speaking settlers lived in the western lived in the western part of Upper part of Upper Canada. Canada.

Lower Canada, now Lower Canada, now Quebec, was home Quebec, was home to many French-to many French-speaking settlers.speaking settlers.

Au contraire, mon frere!

In the 1700’s Britain In the 1700’s Britain gained control over gained control over the vast area of the vast area of Canada. Canada.

However, Canada However, Canada would have to would have to struggle in order to struggle in order to survive as one survive as one nation.nation.