European colonisztion

Canada was probably visited by Europeans around 1000, when Vikings settled in Newfoundland. Helge Ingstad, a Norwegian scientist, had explored and surveyed the Northeast coast of the USA and Canada and had determined from his findings and extensive analysis of the old Sagas that Vinland the Good must be somewhere along the north-eastern coast of Newfoundland. In 1960 he determined a likely location where a Viking settlement may have been located. In 1961 excavation began to uncover a complex settlement. More permanent European visits came in the 16-th and 17-th century as the French settled there.

In 1763 at the end of the Seven Years` War France chose to keep its Caribbean Islands and to leave its North American colony, New France, to Britain and in addition after the American Revolution many British Royalists settled in Canada. On July 1, 1867 with the passing of the British North America Act, the British government granted local self-government to a federation of four provinces formed from three of its North American colonies, Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The former Province of Canada formed two provinces of the new Dominion of Canada, being partitioned into Quebec and Ontario. The Act created “one Dominion under the name of Canada”. The term “Dominion” was chosen to avoid possible antagonizing of anti-monarchist sentiment in the United States and to reflect Canada`s status as a self-governing colony of the British Empire. Other British colonies and territories soon joined the Confederation. By 1880 Canada included all of its present area except for Newfoundland and Labrador which joined in 1949.

Full control over the Dominion`s affairs came officially in 1931 with the Stetute of Westminster and in 1982 with the adoption of Canada`s constitution. In the second half of the 20-th century some citizens of the mainly French-speaking province of Quebec sought independence in two referendums held in 1980 and 1995. In both referendums the separatist cause lead by the Parti Quebecois was defeated with 60% and 50, 6% opposed to independence respectively.