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Crimean War
Originally broken out in the October of 1853, the Crimean War was an alliance of Britain, France, Turkey and Sardinia against Russia. It broke out due to religious tensions in Russia and fear of Russian expansion by other nations. After Russia evacuated a French-troop-ridden city in the September of 1855, they began peace talks with the other nations. On March 30, 1856, Russia signed the Treaty of Paris that ended the Crimean War against Britain, France, Turkey and Sardinia. -
Reciprocity Treaty Signing
After British North America lost massive market share to the United States with the Repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846, Britain (on behalf of British North America) and the United States signed the Reciprocity Treaty to bring about reductions in tariffs on both sides and increase trade. -
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Reciprocity Treaty Active
The period of time when the Reciprocity Treaty, which mutually decreased tariffs of trade between British North America and the United States. -
Britain Gets Involved in Crimean War
Originally broken out in the October of 1853, the Crimean War was an alliance of Britain, France, Turkey and Sardinia against Russia. It broke out due to religious tensions in Russia and fear of Russian expansion by other nations. -
Crimean War Ends
After Russia evacuated a French-troop-ridden city in the September of 1855, they began peace talks with the other nations. On March 30, 1856, Russia signed the Treaty of Paris that ended the Crimean War against Britain, France, Turkey and Sardinia. -
Charlottetown Conference
In 1864, discussions for the concept of uniting the Maritimes were attended by representatives of Canada West, Canada East, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Instead of unifying the Maritimes, Canadian delegates were able to persuade the Maritime colonies to consider a union with the Canadas. A second conference was held in Quebec city to discuss plans further. -
Quebec Conference
A continuation of the discussions held in the Charlottetown Conference, these discussions held in Quebec City deliberated upon the details of the workings of the Canadian Government. Delegates voted in support of the Quebec Resolutions, which contained some of the features of Canada's government which are still in effect today (e.g. a balance between representation by population and equal representation and elected and appointed representatives in parliament. -
Reciprocity Treaty Repeal
In 1865, the United States withdrew out of the Reciprocity Treaty, to the fact that the mutual reductions in tariffs (which the U.S. was not content with) was profiting British North America more than the United States. Furthermore, the U.S. wanted to penalize B.N.A. for their support of the South in the American Civil War. -
London Conference
Delegates from Canada West, Canada East, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia (Newfoundland withdrew from negotiations) discussed the future of the colonies in a conference with British officials in 1866. Agreements were reached on Canada controlling internal affair, with Britain only intervening in foreign proceedings. -
Confederation
On July 1, 1867, the colonies of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia united together as provinces to create the Dominion of Canada, with Ottawa as the capital. -
Thomas D'Arcy McGee Murdered
In Ottawa, 1868, Thomas D'Arcy McGee, an Irish politician who opposed the Fenian Brotherhood (Irish organization who tried to stimulate revolutionary action to overthrow British rule in Ireland), was shot down by a Fenian. Before this event, the Fenians were still a supposed threat to defense, but had several ineffective attacks. -
Rupert's Land Purchase
After the United States purchased Alaska from Russia, Canadian fears of Manifest Destiny () became ignited. In order to prevent being overwhelmed by the U.S., Canada purchased Rupert's Land from the Hudson's Bay Company for $1.5 million. This contained northern Ontario and Quebec, Manitoba, (most of) Saskatchewan, parts of the North-West Territories, southern Alberta, and Nunavut. -
Louis Riel's Provisional Government
Politician Louis Riel, who helped organize the National Committee of the Metis of Red River, wanted to negotiate with the government to set up laws that would allow English, French, and Metis peoples to live as a unified community. -
Immigration Act
Created to manage the flow of Canadian immigration, the primary purpose of the act was to prevent the spread of foreign contagious diseases. Some features of the act included a limit on the number of passengers on immigration ships, as well as strict passenger lists upon arrival. -
North-West Territories Joins Canada
In 1870, Britain transferred control of the North-West Territory to Canada, and was originally governed by Ontario until it was appointed a lieutenant-governor and council in 1876. -
Thomas Scott's Execution by Louis Riel
In 1863, Protestant Thomas Scott came to Ontario from Ireland. He wanted Canada to remain part of the British Empire, and did see Catholics and Metis to be fit to be part of a government. As a powerful symbol of opposition to the Metis, and with the ability to organize settlers to resist demands, Scott was identified as a threat to Louis Riel and the Metis. Riel's provisional government ended up arresting and executing Thomas Scott, which caused the Canadian government to view Riel as hostile. -
Manitoba Act
In 1870, the Manitoba Act was passed to state that Manitoba would become a Canadian province and that the reserved lands for Metis peoples would be protected, but that all other lands would belong to the Canadian government. It was meant to alleviate English-French Tensions by guaranteeing bilingual rights in legislature and courts, as well as the inclusion of religious (Protestant and Roman Catholic) schools. -
British Columbia Joins Canada
Originally governed by Ontario at first, control over the North-Western Territory was transferred from Britain to Canada in 1870 -
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First Nations Land Treaties ( 1 - 6 ) Signings
In order to prevent land-use conflicts, the French and British governments signed a collection of treaties (registered from 1871 to 1888) with First Nation. In exchange for giving up land rights, the government promised reserves upon which they could reside upon, as well as supplementary benefits such as annual payments, development of schools on reserves, and more. However, due to traditional and communication complications, the accords were not upheld to their full extent. -
Prince Edward Island Joins Canada
Involved in early discussions about the creation of Canada and after deciding not to join Canada in 1867 (which they realized was a mistake), P.E.I. joined Canada as a province in 1873 based on the offer that the federal government would take P.E.I.'s then-massive railway costs. -
North West Mounted Police Formation
In 1873, the North West Mounted Police (succeeded by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police/RCMP in 1920) was organized to sustain law and order during establishments of Canadian authority and maintain peaceful developments. -
Pacific Scandal
In 1872, a rich ship owner gave John A. Macdonald $360 000 for his political party to cover expenses. However, since this ship owner was a part of those trying to win the Railway contract, the transaction was perceived as a bribe to persuade Macdonald to give the owner's group the contract. Because of this scandal, the Conservatives lost to the Liberals in the election of 1874, and although Macdonald did not end up leaving parliament, the scandal tarnished his reputation in the eyes of others. -
Indian Act
In 1876, the Indian Act was passed to create the principle of Indian status, which recognized people as First Nations. Some of the features of the act included that First Nations who committed crimes could be tried in Canadian courts, that First Nations could receive full Canadian citizenship (right to vote, etc.), that First Nations people on reserves would be identified as wards of state (and were forbidden to vote or drink), and much more. Some of these policies were altered in later years. -
First Licensed Canadian Woman Doctor
Dr. Emily Howard Stowe was the first woman to obtain proper licensing to practice medicine. Her daughter was the first woman to graduate from a Canadian medial school. -
CPR Contract Begins
After years of unsuccessful attempts with starting construction in Ontario and Manitoba, John A. MacDonald assigned the new contract to the Canadian Pacific Railway company on account of a receding time frame for fulfilling the government's 10-year promise to connect British Columbia to the provinces. In exchange for completion and maintenance of the railway, the CPR company agreed to give $25 million in cash, 10 million hectares of free land, and freedom from competition for 2 decades. -
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CPR Construction
The period of time when the CPR was being built by the Canadian Pacific Railway company. -
Alexander Graham Bell Invents the Telephone
In Brantford, Ontario, 1876, Scottish immigrant Alexander Graham Bell transmitted the first understandable sounds by electrical connections (wire, in this case), which eventually led to the development of the first telephone. -
First Canadian Woman Medical Graduate
In 1883, Dr. Augusta Stowe-Gullen, the daughter of Dr. Emily Stowe (first licensed woman doctor), became the first woman to gradate form a Canadian medical school. -
Louis Riel's Return
After escaping to the U.S. posterior to his first provisional government, Louis Riel was persuaded by First Nations to form a second provisional government in 1885. The Metis were asking for entitlement to their lands, schools, and more. However, as this was not the first time Riel backed up the Metis, the government instantaneously sent troops to war against Riel. Although Riel and his supporters won some early battles, they were later overwhelmed by troops. Riel was arrested, and later hanged. -
CPR Completion
Establishment of the Canadian Pacific Railway ended in 1885. The first passengers traveled on the railroad in 1886. The line stretched from Nova Scotia to British Columbia, with stations in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Sudbury, and 6 others. -
Louis Riel's Hanging
Although Louis Riel was able to flee to the United States after the events in Red River, he was not so fortunate the second time he fought for Metis and French-Canadian rights. In Regina, November 1885, Riel was hanged, but only after he had managed to mystify officials and the public about his sanity, with Riel considering himself a prophet from God sent to help his people.
