HISTORY OF CANADA

It was the battle for empire that drove France to the New World in the 16th century. French explorer Jacques Cartier planted a cross on the Gulf of St. Lawrence in 1534, claiming the region for his country. An intense rivalry among European nations would dominate the history of Canada for the next two centuries.

France firmly established the beginnings of its empire in 1608 at Quebec on the St. Lawrence River. By 1750, more than 60,000 descendants of the original French-Canadian settlers resided in the area around the St. Lawrence River. Fur trappers and their Indian partners made further inroads into the continent, as they moved across the Great Lakes into present-day Saskatchewan and Manitoba in search of lucrative beaver pelts. Jesuit missionaries also served as explorers and cartographers, strengthening New France's position in its competition with England.

A series of colonial wars stemming from the Anglo-French rivalry in Europe resulted in the loss of Canada to Great Britain in 1763. Through the Quebec Act of 1774, the British government allowed the conquered French to retain their Catholic religion and many of their institutions, in an attempt to secure their alliance during the American Revolution.

During the 19th century, colonial dependence gave way to increasing autonomy for Canada. In 1867, the British North America Act established the Dominion of Canada, a confederation of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and what was to become Ontario and Quebec. Two movements of nationalism flourished after Confederation: the Anglo-Protestant Canada First movement, and the Ultramontanes of Catholic Quebec, who believed that Canadian distinctiveness was rooted in the French language. Conflicts between these two movements intensified with the growth of Canada's population and the increasing industrialization of Quebec.

During the early 20th century, a wave of immigration and the success of the "wheat boom" resulted in the creation of the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Completion of two cross-Canada railways spurred economic development, encouraging the growth of cities, including Winnipeg, Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. While it signaled prosperity for some, this westward movement encroached on the lands and cultures of native peoples.

Canada fought on the Allied side during World War I, from 1914-1918, and it emerged as a major nation after fighting in World War II. Divisions among Canadians continued to widen during the 20th century, and French nationalist sentiment gained considerable momentum. By the 1990s, French speakers had comprised nearly 25 percent of Canada's population of 26 million people. Quebec's separatist movement continued to thrive, serving as a reminder of the colonial duel for North America.