Social Study Notes
The native peoples of Canada were the first inhabitants of
the land now known as Canada. They often
refer to themselves as First Nations. The native peoples of Canada spoke 53
different languages.
The first Europeans to visit the shores of North America
were Norse farmers and traders from Greenland called Vikings. The Vikings were
people from Norway, Denmark and Sweden who traded with those who could defend themselves
and raided and pillaged those who could not.
Bjarni Herjolfsson was the first Viking to see the land of
North America in 986. About 15 years
later, Leif Ericsson sailed the course and settled in Newfoundland for the
winter. Archaeologists have found the remains of a Viking settlement at L’Anse
aux Meadows, Newfoundland. Vikings did not have compass. They sailed by using
their knowledge of the sun, moon and stars.
John Cabot claimed the new found land for England.
Martin Frobisher made the first attempt at establishing an
English settlement.
James Cook also fought against the French at Louisburg, Nova
Scotia.
Jean Nicollet was the first European who discovered Lake Superior.
Henry Kelsey lived among the natives in the northern fur
country for almost 40 years.
Sir Humphrey Gilbert officially claimed Newfoundland for
England.
Alexander Mackenzie was a Scottish born fur trader who
charted the Canadian West.
Samuel de Champlain called his settlement in Quebec The
Habitation.
Champlain preferred to travel by canoe.
Beaver pelts were used to make hats.
Champlain crossed the Atlantic between France and New France
21 times.
Champlain used a gun called an arquebus.
Marquis Louis-Joseph de Montcalm was under orders by the
French government to prevent the English from gaining a foothold in New France,
while James Wolfe was under orders from the English government to drive out the
French and take control for Britain.
The battle of this war in Canada was fought on the Plains of Abraham and
resulted in ending France’s claim to any part of British North America.
Acadians is the name given to the French-speaking people in
Atlantic Canada.
The Loyalists were the people who remained loyal to Britain
and the British Empire during the American Revolution.
The war of 1812 was a fight against invasion by the United
States.
All railroads in Canada were combined to form the Canadian
National Railway.
Gold was discovered in the Fraser River Valley in 1856 and
in the Cariboo Mountains between 1860 and 1866.
