Human Geography of Canada

Chapter 7

Developing a Vast Wilderness

Early Peoples

Vast size & cold climate affected development

1st settlers came from Asia across the land bridge

Ancestors of the Inuit & Native American Indians

Early Peoples

About A.D. 1000, Leif Erikson landed in what is now Newfoundland

Called it Vinland, after the wild grapes there

Vikings built a settlement & later abandoned it

Early Peoples

In 1497, Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot in English) an Italian navigator, landed in Newfoundland & claimed the region for England

European exploration & colonization followed

France & Britain

In the 16th & 17th century, French explorers claimed much of Canada

Settlements were called New France

British colonized the Atlantic coast

Fisheries & inland fur trade were important to both

French & British Challenged Claims

British defeated the French in the French & Indian War (1754-1763)

Forced France to surrender its territory, but French settlers remained

Steps Toward Unity

In the 18th century, there were 2 distinct cultures

Roman Catholic French & Protestant English

Conflict erupted In 1791, the British

government split Canada into 2 provinces

Upper Canada (Ontario) – English speaking majority

Lower Canada (Quebec) – French speaking majority

Dominion of Canada

In 1867, created the Dominion of Canada

Loose confederation of Ontario, Quebec, 2 British colonies (Nova Scotia & New Brunswick)

Remained part of the British Empire, but had self-government

Ottawa, Ontario became the capital

Canada’s Government Today

Recognized by the British as an independent nation in 1931 Parliamentary government, system in which legislative &

executive functions are combined in the legislature called a parliament

Parliament consists of an appointed Senate & an elected House of Commons

The majority party’s leader in Parliament becomes Prime Minister

Parliament

Economy

Industries: Farming Logging Mining Fishing Automobiles Steel Household appliances Electronics High-tech and mining equipment

Economy

60% of the GDP comes from service industries

Tourism, communications, finance, utilities, etc.

NAFTA – North American Free Trade Agreement

Made trade between Mexico, U.S., & Canada easier

Language

Officially a bilingual country

English-speaking majority

French-speaking minority

Native languages

Religion

Protestant (English)Roman Catholic (French)MuslimsJews

Population

33 million80% of Canadians

live on 10% of the land

Most live along a 100 mile strip of land just north of the U.S. border

Life in Canada Today

Leisure time Skating, ice hockey, fishing, skiing, golf, & hunting Professional sports teams (own football league and

ice hockey, baseball, basketball teams compete in U.S. leagues)

Subregions of Canada

Atlantic Provinces Prince Edward Island, New

Brunswick, Nova Scotia, & Newfoundland

8% of the population Most live on coastal cities Small population due to

rugged terrain & severe weather

Nova Scotia

Subregions of Canada

The Core ProvincesQuebec & OntarioCanada’s heartland3 out of 5 Canadians

live thereSettlement along the

Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway

Political & economic life

Ottawa

Subregions of Canada

The Prairie ProvincesManitoba,

Saskatchewan, & Alberta

Canada’s breadbasket50% of Canada’s

agricultural production

Subregions of Canada

British Columbia & the Territories Yukon Territory,

Northwest Territories, & Nunavut

Vancouver, BC is Canada’s largest port

Territories make up 41% of the land mass

Vancouver