List the major changes you noticed as you looked through the different maps? (Borders, Names, Capital Cities)
Early maps show Rupert’s land and New France as the biggest territories in Canada.
In 1791, Western Canada was still unexplored by the Europeans but Upper and Lower Canada had formed, along with New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
The North-Western Territory was explored by Europeans and re- named in 1825.
In 1862, British Columbia was split in half with Stickeen Territory. Rupert’s Land was still owned by the Hudson's Bay Company.
During Confederation in 1867, Canada East and Canada West are renamed Québec and Ontario, but the borders remained unchanged. British Columbia looks as it does present day.
There were four provinces that joined Confederation: Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
Rupert’s Land was purchased by the Dominion of Canada in 1870, making the North-Western Territory span from the far east to the far west.
Manitoba was next to join in 1870, but it was much smaller than present-day Manitoba.
Between 1870 and 1873, British Columbia and PEI also joined Confederation.
In 1898, the Yukon joined Confederation.
In 1905, Alberta and Saskatchewan are defined on the map as they look today.
By 1912, Manitoba, Ontario and Québec all look as they do today on the map.
In 1949, the Yukon is present on the map and Newfoundland and Labrador gain disputed land in Quebec and join Confederation.
By 1999, the Canadian north has been divided into 3 territories: Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
2. What might have caused these changes to the map of Canada?
Wars and conflict caused many revisions to the map as new land was acquired by Europeans and private companies.
Early changes in the map of Canada came from European exploration and their discovery of land such as the North-Western Territory.
Confederation also changed the map of Canada when colonies became provinces and borders were defined based on their addition to country.
The purchase of Rupert’s Land changed the map of Canada greatly.
3. Who might reside in the various areas of the map of Canada in 1862? What occupations do you think they might hold?
Many Americans lived in Stickeen Territory due to the Gold Rush.
The Gold Rush also brought many British colonists to British Columbia to start businesses in mining, fishing, agriculture and saw mills.
There was a large Indigenous peoples population in the North-Western Territory along with a few Europeans who settled at fur trading posts.
In Rupert’s Land, the Hudson Bay Company had control over the territory. Many Indigenous peoples lived on the land for centuries and supplied the Hudson’ s Bay Company with furs.
Rupert’s Land also become home to the Métis (a people of both European and Indigenous heritage).
The Province of Canada was made up of French and British settlers who colonized the land. Major industries were grain and timber.
In the Maritime provinces, there was an Indigenous peoples, European and Acadian population. People would mine for rocks and minerals. They also held fishing and ship building as occupations.
4. In 1862, if you wanted to visit different parts of British North America, what methods of transportation might you use?
Horse and carriage
By foot/walking
Canoe
Boat
Snowshoes
5. In your opinion when does the map of Canada start to look familiar? What makes the map recognizable as the map of Canada?
In 1912 the map begins to look familiar because Ontario and Quebec have their current borders, Manitoba got larger and looks as it does today and the west is fully formed with British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan.
The map does not look complete until the three territories have been established and defined on the map in 1999.