Quebec

From ArticleWorld

Quebec is the largest province in Canada and the second most populated after Ontario. It houses more than 7.5 million people and this translates in around a quarter of all Canadians.

History

Quebec’s history can be structured by different timeframes:

• Before 1500 – The first inhabitants in the area were Algonkian, Iroquoian and Inuit. They mainly lived of hunting, agriculture and fishing. Originally, Quebec (meaning narrow or strait) was the name given to the narrowing of St. Lawrence River. The area is nowadays covered by Quebec City.
• Explorations – The first Europeans that arrived in the region were Vikings. They traded with the locals from 1000 BC to 1400 BC. France was to arrive in the area in 1534, with Jacques Cartier being the first explorer to reach it. He formed a colony near the contemporary location of Quebec City, which was to be founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608. The purpose behind it was fur trading and the region that is now Quebec became known as New France. In 1627, King Louis XIII of France implemented the seigniorial system. It forbade settlement in New France for people that were not Roman Catholics. The Hurons and Agolkians were allies at the time and attempts have been made to convert them to Catholicism. 1663 marked the change from New France to a Royal Province. Inhabitants started to call themselves Canadians, which is almost a synonym with “inhabitants”.
• The fall of New France – 1754 saw George Washington attack the French Fort Duquesne. The reason behind it was conquering the territory so that it would be annexed to the British colony of Virginia. This led to the French and Indian War and a seven year war between Britain and France. The result was the win of Great Britain and the appearance of the Province of Quebec.
• The American Revolution – In 1774 the Quebec Act made the French language official and accepted in the region. This was because of fear of revolting from the French speaking inhabitants. The act led to the American Revolution.
• The Patriots Rebellion in Lower Canada – The British colonial rule needed to be changed. This was the view of the inhabitants, which eventually rebelled against the British.
• Modern times – Several political conflicts dominated the scene of Quebec. In 1981, on the 4th and 5th of November the new Canadian constitution was signed. Locals in the region did not agree with it and several attempts to change this have been done. Nowadays Quebec is a part of Canada but has a Parliament and is basically independent from the bigger country, although several links can be found between them.