An Ethnic History of Canada.

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Canada: An Ethnic Nation

An ethnic nation is made up of people who share characteristics such as race, culture, or a common language. These characteristics contribute to a collective identity.

Pre-Confederation:

1604: Samuel De Champlain leads the first colonizing mission for France. They settle in Île Ste-Croix, in Acadia. Although the settlement fails, and over half the colonists perish, it marks the beginning of the many attempts of colonization in Canada by the French. The French however, come to abandon their settlements, leading to the creation of a unique Francophone group in Canada. The land in which they colonized eventually becomes the province of Quebec. The Francophones unite due to a shared language, culture and history.  

1713: The War of the Spanish Succession comes to an end in Europe. This leads to the signing of treaties which divide North American colonies between the British and the French. The treaty of Utrecht gives Britain possession of Hudson Bay, Newfoundland, and Acadia, while France is given Cape Breton Island. France also agrees to compensate the Hudson’s Bay Company for its losses during the war, and drop land claims in Newfoundland. France loses a majority of its territory, and as a result, French influence in North America is lessened. English speaking, Protestants become a majority in Eastern Canada.

1755: When the British attack major French positions in Canada, the Acadians’ oath of neutrality comes under suspicion. The Acadians refuse to take the oath of allegiance to the British crown, so Britain decides to deport over 6,000 Acadians. Many Acadians were assimilated into Anglophone colonies. Tensions rise between Francophones and Anglophones in Canada.

1763: The Royal Proclamation set guidelines for European settlement in First Nations territories. It protected unsettled lands belonging to First Nations tribes and acknowledged their titles to those lands. This helped preserve First Nations culture, although it did not include the Metis, or their land rights.

1791: Lower Canada (Quebec) and Upper Canada (Ontario) are formed. Lower Canada consists mostly of French speaking Catholics, while Upper Canada is dominated by English speaking Protestants.

1837: Rebellions result in Lower Canada after the war of 1812 due to French Canadian nationalism. The Assembly became dominated by middle class French Canadians who worked towards taking away power from the Roman Catholic Church (in matters such as education) and from the Anglophone merchant class who had considerable economic influence in Lower Canada. Citizens fought for the right to determine how revenues in the colony were spent and sought control over the provincial civil service.

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1837: Upper Canada rebels against the Family Compact (a group of officials that dominated the government- executive and legislative councils, as well as the judiciary). People were outraged over their land granting, education and economic policies. The group also showed favoritism to new immigrants from England and the Church of England. Residents of Upper Canada begin to identify themselves as Anglophone Canadians; separate from those who identify themselves as British.

1857: "Civilization of Indian Tribes” Act is passed. Under this act, First Nations men who educated themselves under the British education system or were deemed “capable of managing their ...

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