The Province of Upper Canada (French: province du Haut-Canada) was a part of British Canada established in 1791 by the Kingdom of Great Britain, to govern the central third of the lands in British North America, formerly part of the Province of Quebec since 1763.
Who lived mostly in Upper Canada?
The area that became Upper Canada was populated originally by First Nations people, in particular the Wendat, Neutral, Tionontatehronnon (Petun) and Algonquin, among others. Samuel de Champlain visited the region in the early 17th century. He claimed the territory for France and was followed by other French explorers.
Was Upper Canada French or English?
The French colony of Canada, New France, was set up along the Saint Lawrence River and the northern shores of the Great Lakes. Later, it was split into two British colonies, called Upper Canada and Lower Canada until their union as the British Province of Canada in 1841.
How was Upper Canada different from Lower Canada?
The names “upper” and “lower” come from their position along the St. Lawrence River. Upper Canada was up river, closer to the source and Lower Canada was down river, closer to the mouth of the great waterway. To travel “up river” you had to paddle against the current.
When did the British create Upper and Lower Canada?
1791
The Canadas is the collective name for the provinces of Lower Canada and Upper Canada, two historical British colonies in present-day Canada. The two colonies were formed in 1791, when the British Parliament passed the Constitutional Act, splitting the colonial Province of Quebec into two separate colonies.
Why did they call it Upper Canada?
The “upper” prefix in the name reflects its geographic position along the Great Lakes, mostly above the headwaters of the Saint Lawrence River, contrasted with Lower Canada (present-day Quebec) to the northeast.
What is Upper Canada referred to as today?
Canada West, also called Upper Canada, in Canadian history, the region in Canada now known as Ontario. From 1791 to 1841 the region was known as Upper Canada and from 1841 to 1867 as Canada West, though the two names continued to be employed interchangeably.
Who came first in Canada French or British?
In 1604, the first European settlement north of Florida was established by French explorers Pierre de Monts and Samuel de Champlain, first on St. Croix Island (in present-day Maine), then at Port-Royal, in Acadia (present-day Nova Scotia). In 1608 Champlain built a fortress at what is now Québec City.
Where did the first people in Canada come from?
Prehistoric humans first arrived in significant numbers in what is now Canada about 12,000 years ago. They crossed an ancient land bridge between present-day Siberia and Alaska and spread steadily across the North American continent.
Who founded Upper Canada?
Our history is a source of pride, identity and learning
Some of our traditions, artefacts and architecture date back almost two centuries. UCC was one of the first institutions for secondary education in Ontario. Our founder, Sir John Colborne, was the Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, who later became Lord Seaton.
When did Upper Canada abolish slavery?
July 9, 1793
A compromise was reached and on July 9, 1793 an Act was passed that prevented the further introduction of slaves into Upper Canada and allowed for the gradual abolition of slavery although no slaves already residing in the province were freed outright.
What was Canada called before Canada?
Prior to 1870, it was known as the North-Western Territory. The name has always been a description of the location of the territory.
Was Lower Canada French or English?
Lower Canada was a British colony from 1791 to 1840. Its geographical boundaries comprised the southern portion of present-day Quebec. In 1791, Britain divided the Province of Quebec into Upper Canada and Lower Canada.
Is Canada still a British colony?
Canada first joined the British Commonwealth as an independent state in 1931. The modern Commonwealth came into existence in 1949 with the London Declaration, and Canada has played an important role in its evolution. Queen Elizabeth II served as the Head of Commonwealth during her 70-year reign.
Why did Canada stay loyal to Britain?
Forced from their homes and persecuted at the end of the American Revolution, United Empire Loyalists sought refuge in British Canada. When war broke out in 1812, Loyalist families committed themselves to defending the British Crown and their lands for a second time.
Who lived in Lower Canada?
Lower Canada was populated mainly by Canadiens, an ethnic group who trace their ancestry to French colonists who settled in Canada from the 17th century onward.
What did they eat in Upper Canada?
Local wild ingredients, such as maple sugar, maize, pumpkin, and a variety of wild fruits, were reportedly common at the Upper Canadian table (Abonyi 1993), along with various types of wild meat, including venison, turkey, partridge, passenger pigeon, squirrel, hare, duck, and other fowl (Traill 1846, 1857; Moodie 1852
Why is Canada called British Columbia?
Origin of the name
The central region was given the name of “New Caledonia” by explorer Simon Fraser. To avoid confusion with Colombia in South America and the island of New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean, Queen Victoria named the area British Columbia when it became a colony in 1858.
What was Alberta called before 1905?
Until 1905 all the area west and north of Manitoba was called the Northwest Territories. It was a vast area that, for a long time, was home mostly to Indigenous peoples, Métis and fur traders from the Hudson’s Bay Company. A few settlers were trickling in and a limited form of government was established in 1875.
When did the British get Quebec?
1763
The Province of Quebec (French: Province de Québec) was a colony in British North America which comprised the former French colony of Canada. It was established by the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1763, following the conquest of New France by British forces during the Seven Years’ War.
Why did France give up Canada?
But with the Treaty of Paris in 1763, France chose to abandon Canada. This was mainly because the colony had cost more than it had returned. France also made no subsequent attempt to regain Canada.