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Belgian Amiga Club - ADF Collection
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BS1 part 27
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WorldAtlas2_d2.adf
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TEXTA
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27
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1990-04-02
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30 lines
The original founder of Canada is disputed by many. Some say it was the
Vikings, others Jacques Cartier, still others say John Cabot. It is clear that
there were inhabitants in Canada before any Europeans ventured further into
North America. The French were the pioneers who established many of the
great cities of Canada, which started as trading posts. Quebec City and
Montreal and New France were declared to be a French colony in 1663.
As the British began expanding north and south in the New World, they
gained more and more French Canadian territory. In the Quebec Act of 1774
the French Canadians retained their right to their own language, religion, and
civil law. That is why French is still spoken in the Quebec region of Canada.
The number of British in Canada increased during the American Revolution as
British loyalists moved north. The demand for furs increased in Europe so
traders and explorers ventured further and further west in Canada until they
reached the Pacific Ocean. Just as Canada began to call for responsible
government, the War of 1812 broke out between the U.S. and Britain. Most
of the battles took place on Canadian soil only to end in 1814 with no
improvements in the problems between the U.S. and her previous ruler,
England.
In 1837 people were crying for more democratic government and the British
sent Lord Durham to investigate. Lord Durham recommended Lower Canada
(Quebec) and Upper Canada (Ontario) be united to make one colony. Later
the British North America (BNA) Act created the Dominion of Canada
(Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick). This act set up a federal
government based on England's instead of several self-ruling colonies.
Until 1982 Canada was a dominion, with self-governing autonomy checked by
the British crown. In 1987 the Meech Lake Agreement was signed. It is still
subject to approval by Parliament and the legislatures but it is an act that
will ensure Constitutional protection for Quebec's effort to maintain the
preservation of French language and culture.
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