History of Canada

This article is part of the
History of Canada series

Canada, which has been inhabited by natives including the First Nations and the Inuit for about 10,000 years, was first visited by Europeans around 1000, when the Vikings briefly settled at L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland. More permanent European visits came in the 16th and 17th century, as the English and French settled there.

In 1763, at the end of the Seven Years' War, France decided to keep its Caribbean Islands and leave its North American colony, New France, to Britain. After the American Revolution, many British Loyalists settled in Canada. United States and the United Kingdom fought the War of 1812. On July 1, 1867 with the passing of the British North America Act, the British government granted local self-government to a federation of three of its North American colonies, (Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia) as the Dominion of Canada. In later years, other British colonies and territories joined the confederation. By 1880 Canada included all of its present area with the exception of Newfoundland and Labrador (which joined in 1949). Full control over its affairs came in 1931 with the Statute of Westminster, and in 1982 with the patriation of Canada's constitution.

On July 7, 1969 the French language was made equal to English throughout the Canadian federal government. This started a process that led to Canada redefining itself as a bilingual and multicultural nation.

In the late second half of the 20th century, some citizens of the French-speaking province of Quebec sought independence in two referendums held in 1980 and 1995. In both cases, the referendums were defeated with 60% and 50.6% opposed to independence, respectively.