Exports - motor vehicles and parts, aircraft, plastics, fertilizers; wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum. Imports - machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil, chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods.
Deforestation Extraction of too many natural resources in the Canadian Shield. Acid rain and pollution of the Great Lakes.
Fish and timber are raw materials that have been important to Canada’s economy. When too many of these raw materials are removed from the environment, it hurts the environment permanently, especially around the Canadian Shield. Today, Canada does not export as many raw materials and they have banned fishing in some areas. Canadian factories also pollute the Great Lakes.
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Religion – Christian-70%, Other-30%.
99% Total
2 nd largest country in the world by total land area. Population – 34 million Life Expectancy – 81 years Famous For: inventing hockey, being neighbors with the U.S., polar bears, Eskimos, and cold weather.
Canada’s History Describe the influence of the French and English on the language and religion of Canada.
The First Nations, or native peoples of Canada, are related to people who came from Asia about 12,000 years ago. They migrated to North America across the Bering Land Bridge, a strip of land that joined present day Siberia to Alaska. These were Inuits or Eskimos.
For unexplained reasons, the Norse (Vikings) explored Canada, but deserted their Canadian settlements. An Italian explorer known as John Cabot was the next European to sail to Canada in 1497.
A French explorer named Jacques Cartier explored Canada. He claimed the land for France. The people of the First Nations called it Canada, but the French called it New France.
In the 1600s, Samuel de Champlain built a settlement along the St. Lawrence River in Quebec. People tried to farm, but eventually moved inland to trap animals which was much more profitable due to the European demand for furs. European fur traders were soon joined by farmers, merchants, and the Catholic church; most of which lived along the St. Lawrence River.
French Colonists brought with them French laws, traditions, and religion and language.
The British had colonized the region directly south of New France. They saw financial opportunities with the success of the French in fur trapping. They wanted to take over New France and control the fur trade.
Great Britain and France fought for the control of Canadian territory and the fur trade. The British conquered Quebec in 1750 and by 1763, the war ended. The Treaty of Paris gave the British control of all land east of the Mississippi River.
After the war, the British forced many French-speaking people to leave. The British allowed the French to stay in Quebec. Although the region was controlled by the British, the culture remained French.
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Canada’s History
During the American Revolution, Canada did not seek its independence from Britain as America did. Those Americans that did not like the outcome of the war were known as Loyalists, some of which exiled themselves to Canada.
Other Loyalists moved to Quebec which lead to problems because of the many cultural differences. Eventually this lead to the re-division of the country into British Upper Canada and French Lower Canada.
In 1837, Canadians began to rebel against British control. They were unsuccessful. This lead to the re-unification of Upper and Lower Canada.
By the 1860s, Canadian leaders began to look into making a confederation or union of all British North American colonies. Britain accepted the agreement because it freed them from the responsibility of protecting the colonies. The Canadians gained their independence peacefully. The British North American Act lead to the creation of four provinces governed by a constitution.
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Canada’s History
Many French Canadians disagreed with Canada joining World War I. In addition, many thought of themselves as French instead of Canadians and did not like the close ties that Canada still had with the British.
Some French Canadians began to feel that Quebec should become its own country. In 1980 and 1995, the people of Quebec voted on whether to stay a part of Canada. Both times, they decided to stay. However, the last vote was very close- 49.4% to leave- 50.6% to stay.
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