Chapter 5 Section 1
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Come from many different countries
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50 ethnic groups make up the population
2/3 of Canadians have European ancestry
40% have British roots
27% share a French heritage
Germany, Italy, Ukraine, Africa, Asia
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What is a first nation?
◦ First Nations – descendants of those first settlers
from Asia.
 Cree, Micmac, Abenaki (Abe-na-ki), Ojibwa (O-jib-wa)
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People have lived in North America for
12,000 years
◦ Oceans were 300 feet lower than today
 Allowed people to settle in North and South America
 Bering Strait
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1600’s European immigrants came to settle in
Canada
Britain and France established colonies in Canada
similar to the United States
◦ France and Britain long history of conflict continued
here.
◦ 1754 – 1763 French and Indian War
◦ Great Britain won, but the French stayed creating
disputes
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Early immigrants were English, Scottish, Irish,
French
◦ WW1 – Italy, Poland, Ukraine
◦ WW2 – Germans, Dutch
◦ 1960’s – Africa, Latin America, Asia, the Pacific Islands
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1791 – Great Britain created two areas
◦ Upper Canada (Ontario) – British
◦ Lower Canada (Quebec) - French
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1867 – United as Dominion of Canada
◦ Nova Scotia and New Brunswick added
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1869 – Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan
added
1871 – British Columbia added (now reached
the Pacific Ocean
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Multiculturalism – an acceptance of many
cultures instead of just one.
Canadian citizens have kept their separate
languages and identities (French and British)
◦ Official policy of multiculturalism
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Similar rights and responsibilities as we do
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Obey Canada’s laws
Option of voting
Participate in political system
Freedom of religion, speech, assembly
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Land area second to Russia
Population is 31 million
◦ US population 316.1 million (2013)
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¾ of population live in cities and towns of
Southern Canada.
Canadians live on farms, and in cities
Northern regions are rugged and cold
◦ Few live here
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British Columbia is “Gateway to the Pacific”
Chinese from Hong Kong immigrated at the
end of the 20th Century
Recently refugees from Vietnam, Laos,
Cambodia arrived
Refugees – people who flee a country because
of war, disaster, or persecution
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1/12 of Canada’s population
¼ of the immigrant population
70,000 + immigrants arrive each year
40% + population is foreign born (born
elsewhere)
10% arrived after 1991 (23 years ago)
Toronto is center of industry and
international trade.