Canada: History

Canada was discovered by the Vikings, and as part of America, was apparently one of the last continents in the world to be inhabited. Formerly a group of British and French colonies, it has evolved over time to become the multicultural federation it is known as today. France sent the first large group of settlers in the 17th century, and the current constitution of Canada came into effect in 1867, when three British colonies united as a single nation of four provinces. During the American Revolutionary War, the U.S. Congress wanted Quebec to become a part of the United States, thus sending a small army to take it from the British in 1775. But the people of Quebec refused to support the revolution, and the Americans retreated the following year. Canadian soldiers fought in World War I as they were still part of the British Empire at this time. The end of the war saw women in Canada being given the right to vote, and this was partly because of the help they gave making weapons while the men fought in Europe. In 1931, Canada became fully independent, with the Government of Canada able to make all its own decisions about Canada. Canada consists today of ten provinces and three territories. Many French Canadians now wish to form their own country and become separate from the rest of Canada.