Territorial Evolution of Canada Information
The federation of Canada was created in 1867 when three colonies of British North America were united. One of these colonies split into two new provinces, three other colonies joined later. The new federation continued as a British colonial possession, gradually evolving into an independent nation several decades later.
Before being part of British North America, the provinces that made up the new Dominion of Canada were part of the colonies of Canada and Acadia in New France, which were gradually ceded to Great Britain and the United Kingdom after defeat in several wars. The French influence lived on, as the French language was common in the initial provinces of Canada, and remains one of the two official languages of the country.
The central expanse of Canada was originally settled by the Hudson's Bay Company of the Kingdom of England, which had a royal monopoly over trade in the region; Rupert's Land was named after the company's first director, Prince Rupert of the Rhine. The North West Company later moved into a large portion of the region, and competition and minor hostilities between the two companies forced their merger. What was to become Colony of British Columbia was claimed as part of New Spain and Russian America, until 1793 and 1825 respectively, and was for a time shared with the United States as what was known to Americans as the Oregon Country, until in 1846 the border was extended west from the Rockies to the Pacific along the 49th parallel north.
Since it was formed, Canada's external borders have changed seven times, and it has grown from four provinces to ten provinces and three territories. It has only lost significant territory in the small border dispute with the Dominion of Newfoundland over Labrador, which joined Canada some time later.
Notes
- The Northwest Territories (NWT) have been made up of several districts, but one of these, the District of Keewatin, once had a higher status than the other districts. Because of this unique status, it is handled separately from the NWT on this list. After 1905 it no longer had any special status, and it was finally dissolved in 1999 when Nunavut was created.
- The maps used on this page, for simplicity, use the modern version of the borders of Labrador. For much of its history, Canada claimed Labrador extended only along the coast (the "Coasts of Labrador"), while Newfoundland claimed the larger area. It is Newfoundland's claim that is used.
- The Arctic Islands were still being explored and discovered throughout Canada's history; apart from the Sverdrup Islands, however, they were all claimed by Canada upon discovery, and to simplify the list the individual discoveries are omitted.
Timeline
July 1, 1867
The Dominion of Canada was formed from three provinces of British North America: the Province of Canada, which was split into the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, and the colonies of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.[1]
July 15, 1870
The United Kingdom transferred most of its remaining land in North America to Canada, with Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory becoming the North-West Territories. The Rupert's Land Act 1868 transferred the region to Canada as of 1869, but it was only consummated in 1870 when £300,000 were paid to the Hudson's Bay Company. At this time, the Manitoba Act took effect, and a small square of the newly acquired region surrounding the city of Winnipeg was made the province of Manitoba.[2][3]
July 20, 1871
The British colony of British Columbia joined Canada as the sixth province.[4] British Columbia joined the Canadian confederation following The Great Confederation Debates in the spring of 1870 and the Confederation Negotiations of the following summer and winter.[5]
July 1, 1873
The British colony of Prince Edward Island joined Canada as the seventh province by an Act of Parliament (and, as part of the terms of union, was guaranteed a ferry link, a term which was deleted upon completion of the Confederation Bridge in 1997).[6]
July 26, 1874
The borders of Ontario were provisionally expanded north and west. When the Province of Canada was formed, its borders were not entirely clear, and Ontario claimed to eventually reach all the way to the Rocky Mountains and Arctic Ocean. With Canada's acquisition of Rupert's Land, Ontario was interested in clearly defining its borders, especially since some of the new areas it was interested in were rapidly growing. After the federal government asked Ontario to pay for construction in the new disputed area, the province asked for an elaboration on its limits, and its boundary was moved north to the 51st parallel north.[7][8]
April 12, 1876
The District of Keewatin was created by the passage of the Keewatin Act on April 12, 1876 in a central separate strip from the North-West Territories, in order to provide government for the growing area north of Manitoba and west of Ontario.[9][10][11]
September 1, 1880
The United Kingdom transferred its Arctic Islands to Canada, and they were made part of the North-West Territories.[12]
July 1, 1881
Manitoba's borders were expanded to a larger postage stamp province taking land easterly from the District of Keewatin to the western boundary of Ontario. Since the province's eastern border was defined as the "western boundary of Ontario", the exact definition of which was still unclear, Ontario disputed a portion of the new region.[13]
May 7, 1886
The southwestern border of the District of Keewatin was adjusted to conform to the boundaries of the new provisional districts of the North-West Territories created in 1882, returning some land to the North-West Territories.[14] The provisional districts were, the District of Alberta, the District of Athabasca, District of Assiniboia and the District of Saskatchewan, which all remained administrative areas of the North-West Territories unlike the District of Keewatin.[3]
August 12, 1889
The dispute between Manitoba and Ontario ended as Ontario's borders were finalized in accordance with the Canada (Ontario Boundary) Act, 1889, which extended the province west to the Lake of the Woods and north to the Albany River.[15]
October 2, 1895
Keewatin covered the portion of the North-West Territories north of Manitoba on the mainland, and all islands within Hudson, James, and Ungava Bays. The portion between the District of Keewatin, Ontario, and Hudson Bay was not in a district, and was assigned to the District of Keewatin by an Order of Council. Four additional provisional districts of the North-West Territories were formed, the District of Yukon, the District of Ungava, the District of Mackenzie, and the District of Franklin.[16][17]
1897
The borders of the District of Keewatin were adjusted.[18] Southampton Island, Coats Island, Mansel Island, Akimiski Island, and other islands were transferred to Keewatin.
June 13, 1898
Yukon Territory was created from the District of Yukon in the northwestern part of the North-West Territories, and the Quebec Boundary Extension Act, 1898 expanded the borders of Quebec north to the Eastmain River.[19]
May 23, 1901
The eastern border of Yukon Territory was adjusted to the Peel River, so that the borders would not cross a watershed, and also to include some more islands.[20]
October 20, 1903
The Alaska boundary dispute is resolved primarily in the favor of the United States.
September 1, 1905
The provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan were created from the North-West Territories. Saskatchewan's western border and Alberta's eastern border run concurrent with the 4th meridian[A] or the 110°W longitude. Saskatchewan's eastern border is not a meridian, but instead follows a staircase-shaped Dominion Land Survey range line. Alberta's southern and northern borders are the same as Saskatchewan's: the southern border is the Canada – United States border or the 49th parallel and the northern border is the 60th parallel. Alberta's western border runs along peaks of the Rocky Mountain ridge then extends north to the 60th parallel.[21][21][22][23]
1906
The Northwest Territories Act was passed 1906, significantly removing the hyphen from the name of the territory.[24]
May 15, 1912
Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec were all expanded into their present-day boundaries. The Northwest Territories is now only situated north of the 60th parallel (except Hudson Bay and James Bay islands) with three districts, Keewatin, Mackenzie and Franklin.[24]
1915
Brock Island, Borden Island, and Mackenzie King Island are discovered and added to the Northwest Territories.
August 1916
Lougheed Island is discovered and annexed to Northwest Territories.
June 13, 1916
Meighen Island is discovered and annexed to Northwest Territories.
1925
The boundaries of the Northwest Territories expand, and they now extend north to the North Pole.[24]
March 11, 1927
A British Privy Council of 1927 decided the issue of the border between Labrador and Quebec in Labrador's favour, transferring a small portion of land from Canada to the Dominion of Newfoundland.[25]
November 11, 1930
Sverdrup Islands are ceded to Canada by Norway, in exchange for British recognition of Norway's soveriegnty over Jan Mayen
1948
Air Force Island, Prince Charles Island, and Foley Island are discovered and added to Northwest Territories.
March 31, 1949
The Dominion of Newfoundland and its dependency of Labrador joined as the tenth province, named Newfoundland as proclaimed by the British North America Act 1949.[26]
April 1, 1999
The territory of Nunavut was created from the Northwest Territories. The provisional districts are no longer administrative areas of the Northwest Territories.[24]
December 6, 2001
The province of Newfoundland was renamed Newfoundland and Labrador by the Constitution Amendment 2001 (Newfoundland and Labrador).[27]
April 1, 2003
The name of Yukon Territory became simply Yukon.[28]
See also
| History of Canada portal | |
| North America portal |
| Book: Canada | |
| Wikipedia books are collections of articles that can be downloaded or ordered in print. | |
- Former colonies and territories in Canada
- List of areas disputed by Canada and the United States
- Northwest Passage international waters dispute
- Territorial claims in the Arctic
- Territorial evolution of North America since 1763
References
- ^ "The Atlas of Canada - History of Canada – Territorial Evolution". Natural Resources Canada. Government of Canada. 09-02-06. http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/aboutus/100anniversary/carto_exhibit/terr_evo.html. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
- ^ Hall, David J. (2009). "North-West Territories, 1870-1905". The Canadian Encyclopedia > History > West & Northwest History. Historica Foundation of Canada.. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0005805. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
- ^ a b Moffat, Ben (2006). "Boundaries of Saskatchewan". Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan. Canadian Plains Research Center, University of Regina. http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/boundaries_of_saskatchewan.html. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
- ^ "Maps 1667-1999 - Canadian Confederation". Library and Archives Canada. Government of Canada. 005-05-02. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/confederation/023001-2101-e.html. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
- ^ "British Columbia - Canadian Confederation". Library and Archives Canada. Government of Canada. August 9, 2006. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/confederation/023001-2185-e.html. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
- ^ Bolger, Francis William Pius (1961). "Prince Edward Island and Confederation 1863-1873" (PDF). St. Dunstan's University, Charlottetwon CCHA Report 28 (1961) 25-30. University of Manitoba. http://www.umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_pauls/ccha/Back%20Issues/CCHA1961/Bolger.pdf. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
- ^ Mills, David (1877). Report on the Boundaries of the Province of Ontario. Toronto: Hunter, Rose & Co.. p. 347. http://books.google.com/?id=BlYCAAAAMAAJ.
- ^ "Territorial Evolution, 1874". Natural Resources Canada > Atlas Home > Explore Our Maps > History > Territorial Evolution > Territorial Evolution, 1874. Government of Canada. March 18, 2009. http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/maps/historical/territorialevolution/1874/1. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
- ^ "Keewatin". The Daily Free Press. December 1, 1876. p. 1.
- ^ "Who Named the North-Land?". Manitoba Free Press. August 19, 1876. p. 3.
- ^ "Keewatin.". Manitoba Free Press. April 1, 1876. p. 1.
- ^ "The Atlas of Canada - History of Canada – Territorial Evolution 1880". Natural Resources Canada. Government of Canada. 09-02-06. http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/maps/historical/territorialevolution/1880/1. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
- ^ "Manitoba's Boundaries". Association of Manitoba Land Surveyors. Archived from the original on 2007-07-22. http://web.archive.org/web/20070722122047/http://www.amls.ca/Manitoba.htm. Retrieved August 18, 2009.
- ^ Parliament, Canada (1893). Report of the Dominion Fishery Commission on the Fisheries of the Province of Ontario. p. 36. http://books.google.com/?id=WDtOAAAAMAAJ&q=may+1886+keewatin&dq=may+1886+keewatin.
- ^ Canada (Ontario Boundary) Act 1889. Wikisource. 12th August, 1889.
- ^ Martin, Frederick; Keltie, Sir John Scott; Renwick, Isaac Parker Anderson; Epstein, Mortimer; Steinberg, Sigfrid Henry; Paxton, John; Hunter, Brian (1899). The Statesman's Year-Book. p. 223. http://books.google.com/?id=XvYb0J0DVB4C&pg=PA223&dq=%22october+2+1895%22+keewatin.
- ^ "The Atlas of Canada - History of Canada – Territorial Evolution 1895". Natural Resources Canada. Government of Canada. 09-02-06. http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/maps/historical/territorialevolution/1895/1. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
- ^ "The Atlas of Canada - History of Canada – Territorial Evolution 1897". Natural Resources Canada. Government of Canada. 09-02-06. http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/maps/historical/territorialevolution/1897/1. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
- ^ Coates and Morrison, p.103
- ^ Yukon Territory Act, S.C. 1901, chap. 41, section 14
- ^ a b Thomson, Malcolm M.; Tanner, Richard W. (04/1977). "Canada's Prime Meridian". Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada 71: 204. 1977JRASC..71..204T.
- ^ Lewry, Marilyn (2006). "Boundary surveys". The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan. Canadian Plains Research Center, University of Regina. http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/boundary_surveys.html. Retrieved January 6, 2009.
- ^ "The Atlas of Canada - Territorial Evolution, 1905". Natural Resources Canada. Government of Canada. April 6, 2004. http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/maps/historical/territorialevolution/1905/1. Retrieved January 6, 2009.
- ^ a b c d "History of the Name of the Northwest Territories - PWNHC". Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. http://pwnhc.learnnet.nt.ca/research/nwtname/. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
- ^ "Les Dix Grand Mensonges". Henri Dorion discrédite les Dix Grand Mensonges sur la frontière du Labrador (Henri Dorion debunks the Ten Great Myths about the Labrador boundary). Québec—Assemblée Nationale—Première session, 34e Législature (Quebec—National Assembly—First Session, 34th Legislature). October 1, 1991. Archived from the original on 2009-08-05. http://web.archive.org/web/20090805164734/http://geocities.com/Yosemite/Rapids/3330/constitution/hdfr.htm. Retrieved August 25, 2009.
- ^ Webb, Jeff A. (January, 2003). "The Commission of Government, 1934-1949: Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage". Memorial University of Newfoundland and the C.R.B. Foundation.. http://www.heritage.nf.ca/law/commission_gov.html. Retrieved August 25, 2009.
- ^ Adrienne Clarkson; Jean Chrétien, Anne McLellan, Brian Tobin (December 6, 2001 (web publication date 1 November 2004)). "Constitution Amendment, 2001 (Newfoundland and Labrador)" (published online by William F. Maton). solon.org. http://www.solon.org/Constitutions/Canada/English/cap_2001nl.html. Retrieved August 25, 2009.
- ^ Library and Archives Canada. "Yukon Territory name change to Yukon" (PDF). http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/040006/f2/040006-15-e.pdf. Retrieved July 14, 2009.
Bibliography
- Government of Canada (March 23, 2004). "Territorial Evolution". The Atlas of Canada. Natural Resources Canada. http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/maps/historical/territorialevolution.
- Hayes, Derek (2002). Historical Atlas of Canada. Douglas & McIntyre. ISBN 978155054918. http://books.google.ca/books?id=KvtEUChw9uAC&lpg=PP8&dq=Name%20of%20Canada&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=true.
- Matthews, Geoffrey J (1987). Historical atlas of Canada, Volume 1. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0802024955. http://books.google.ca/books?id=itsTLSnw8qgC&lpg=PP1&dq=Historical%20Atlas%20of%20Canada&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=true.
Categories: Provinces and territories of Canada | Territorial evolution | National timelines | History of the Northwest Territories | Districts of the Northwest Territories | Timelines of North American history | Borders of Canada
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