Canadian history: the essentials for the citizenship test
History is the richest topic of the Discover Canada guide (pp. 14 to 27) and one of the most frequent in the questions. Here are the main periods to know, summed up from our study sheet 1. To see every date at a glance, use our interactive key dates timeline.
The roots of our freedoms
Canada's tradition of freedom goes back to Magna Carta, signed in England in 1215 (p. 8). The Royal Proclamation of 1763 by George III secured the land rights of Indigenous peoples (p. 10).
Exploration and New France
| Date | Event | Page |
|---|---|---|
| 1497 | John Cabot explores Canada's East Coast | 14 |
| 1534–1542 | Jacques Cartier crosses the Atlantic three times; the word "kanata" gives the country its name | 14 |
| 1604 | Pierre de Monts and Champlain found the first European settlement north of Florida | 15 |
| 1670 | Charles II gives the Hudson's Bay Company a trading monopoly | 15 |
From the Conquest to the rebellions
| Date | Event | Page |
|---|---|---|
| 1755–1763 | Great Upheaval: deportation of the Acadians | 10 |
| 1759 | Battle of the Plains of Abraham: end of the French empire in America | 15 |
| 1774 | Quebec Act: the rights of French-speaking Catholics are protected | 15 |
| 1776 | The 13 colonies declare independence; the Loyalists flee to Canada | 15 |
| 1791 | Constitutional Act: Upper and Lower Canada; the name "Canada" becomes official | 16 |
| 1793 | Upper Canada starts abolishing slavery, a first in the Empire | 16 |
| 1812–1814 | War of 1812: the American invasion is pushed back | 17 |
| 1837–1838 | Rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada | 17 |
Toward Confederation
In 1840, Upper and Lower Canada were united as the Province of Canada (p. 18). In 1847–1848, Nova Scotia became the first colony with responsible government (p. 18). On July 1, 1867, the British North America Act created the Dominion of Canada: that is Canada Day (p. 18).
Since Confederation
| Date | Event | Page |
|---|---|---|
| 1869–1870 | Louis Riel leads the Métis resistance; Manitoba is created | 19 |
| 1885 | The Canadian Pacific Railway is completed | 20 |
| 1917 | Capture of Vimy Ridge (April 9) | 21 |
| 1918 | Armistice (November 11); women win the federal vote | 21 |
| 1944 | D-Day: Canadians take Juno Beach | 23 |
| 1960 | Indigenous peoples gain the federal vote | 24 |
| 1965 | The Canadian flag is raised for the first time | 38 |
| 1982 | The Charter of Rights and Freedoms becomes part of the Constitution | 8 |
| 1999 | Nunavut is created | 51 |
Test yourself
- Start a 20-question quiz on Canadian history →
- Study the dates on the interactive timeline, with its study mode and game
- Download study sheet 1 (PDF)
Summary taken from our study sheet 1; page numbers refer to the Discover Canada guide.