Canada history spans over 14,000 years — from indigenous peoples, French and British colonization, Confederation 1867, two world wars, to modern Canada.
Indigenous Peoples (12,000 BC - 1497)
First Nations, Inuit, Metis peoples. 50+ language families. Estimated 500,000 indigenous before European contact.
French and British Colonization (1497-1763)
John Cabot reached Newfoundland 1497. Jacques Cartier explored Saint Lawrence 1534. Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec 1608 — New France. British Hudson Bay Company 1670. French and Indian War 1754-1763 — Britain won, took New France.
British North America (1763-1867)
British rule. American Revolution 1776 — Loyalists fled to Canada. War of 1812 with USA — successfully defended. Lord Durham Report 1839. Act of Union 1840.
Confederation (1867)
July 1, 1867 — British North America Act created Dominion of Canada from 4 provinces (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia). Sir John A. Macdonald first PM. Canadian Pacific Railway 1885 unified country.
World Wars and Statute of Westminster (1914-1947)
WWI — 67,000 Canadians killed at Vimy Ridge etc. Statute of Westminster 1931 gave Canada full legislative independence. WWII — Canada declared war on Germany 1939, fought in D-Day.
Modern Canada (1947-today)
Massive immigration. Universal healthcare 1966. Trudeau (father) 1968-1984. Constitution Act 1982 — full sovereignty. Quebec sovereignty referendums 1980, 1995. Justin Trudeau PM 2015-2025. 40 million population. Constitutional monarchy (King Charles III).