Canada is a state in North America. It is the second most occupied country in the world. Canada originates from the French colony, which was located on the site of the city of Quebec. Modern territory and the political system of Canada were formed as a result of long historical and political processes.
Colonial period
For millennia, the land where Canada is now located has been inhabited by the indigenous peoples of America. The first British and French colonies in modern Canada appeared at the end of the 15th century on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. In 1534, the French explorer Jacques Cartier captured the territory of modern Quebec on behalf of the King of France Francis I.
In 1583, the Englishman Humphrey Gilbert declared the territory of modern Newfoundland an English colony under the rule of Queen Elizabeth I. In 1605 and 1608, the first European settlements were founded on the territories of Quebec and Port Royal.
Thus, the territory of Canada was inhabited by French and English settlers. From 1689 to 1763, four wars broke out in colonial North America over territories and resources between the French, British, Dutch and Native American tribes. As a result of these wars, part of French Canada passed into the hands of the British. There were numerous conflicts between the population of the French settlements and the British authorities.
In 1763, the territory of Canada finally became British. The remaining French territories were transferred to Britain under the Paris Treaty. To prevent a conflict with the French population of Quebec, the British authorities expanded its territory, allowed to keep the Catholic faith and French as an official language.
Canada played an important role in the Anglo-American War of 1812, during which the United States planned to expand its territory at the expense of the British colony of Canada, which was not achieved. After the war, in 1815, the mass immigration of Europeans to Canada began.
The absence of real government, the differences between the English and French populations of Canada lead to the 1837 uprising. The uprising was crushed by the British authorities. In order to assimilate the French population, it was decided to unite Canada into one territory, the United Canada, and thereby abolish part of the rights given to the French. Colonization of Canada continues: in 1849 a colony was founded in Vancouver, and in 1858 - British Columbia.
Canadian Confederation
In 1867, the unification of the three colonies — United Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick — was finally approved into a dominion called Canada, which unites four provinces (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia). At the same time, Canada received the right to form its own government without leaving the British Empire.
British Columbia and Vancouver joined the Canadian Confederation in 1871. To expand to the west, the government sponsors the construction of three railways and enacts the law on the lands of dominion. In 1905, some areas of the Northwest Territories adopted a new statute and became the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.
The beginning of the XX century
Still part of the British Empire, Canada enters the First World War. Canada's independence from Britain continues to grow. In 1919, Canada voluntarily enters the League of Nations.
In 1931, the Westminster Statute confirms that no law of the British Parliament can extend to Canada without the consent of the Canadian government.
