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HISTORY OF CANADA

The history of Canada covers the period from the arrival of Paleo-


Indians thousands of years ago to the present day. Canada has been inhabited
for millennia by distinctive groups of Aboriginal peoples, among whom evolved
trade networks, spiritual beliefs, and social hierarchies. Some of these
civilizations had long faded by the time of the first European arrivals and have
been discovered through archaeological investigations.
Various treaties and laws have been enacted between European settlers and the
Aboriginal populations.

History of Canada (1945-1960)


Prosperity returned to Canada during Second World War. With continued Liberal
governments, national policies increasingly turned to social welfare, including
hospital insurance, old-age pensions, and veterans' pensions. The financial crisis
of the Great Depression, soured by rampant corruption, had led
Newfoundlanders to relinquish responsible government in 1934 and become a
crown colony ruled by a British governor. Prosperity returned when the
American military arrived in 1941 with over 10,000 soldiers and huge
investments in air and naval bases. Popular sentiment grew favourable toward
the Americans, alarming the Canadian government, which now wanted
Newfoundland to enter into confederation instead of falling into the American
orbit. In 1948, the British government gave voters three Referendumchoices:
remaining a crown colony, returning to Dominion status (that is, independence),
or joining Canada. Joining the U.S. was not made an option. After bitter debate
Newfoundlanders voted to join Canada in 1949 as a Province.[6] Canada's
foreign policy during in the Cold Warwas closely tied to that of the U.S.,
demonstrated by membership in NATO, sending combat troops into the Korean
War, and establishing a joint air defence system (NORAD) with the U.S.

History of Canada (1960-1981)


In the 1960s, a Quiet Revolution took place in Quebec, overthrowing the old
establishment which centered on the Catholic Church and modernizing the
economy and society. Québécoisnationalists demanded independence and
tensions rose until violence erupted during the 1970October Crisis. During his
long tenure in the office (1968–79, 1980–84), Prime MinisterTrudeau made
social change his political goal for Canada.

History of Canada (1982-1992)


As the highlight of his nearly 16 years as prime minister, Trudeau negotiated
the Patriation of the Canadian constitution in 1982, which included the
introduction to Canada of a Charter of Rights and final independence from
Britain (though Canada had been effectively independent for many decades).
The Patriation negotiations led to renewed antagonism between Quebec and the
rest of Canada, which later Prime Minister Mulroney's Meech Lake Accord failed
to smooth over. During the same decade, Canada engaged in violent conflict
both abroad in the First Gulf War and at home, during the Oka Crisis. Also this
period saw the Mount Cashel Boys Home Scandal.

History of Canada (1992-Present)


In the past decade and a half, Canada experienced the tenure of another one of
the longest continuously serving prime ministers (Jean Chrétien), a
second Quebec referendum on sovereignty, and the creation of a new
territory, Nunavut. While long standing issues likeimmigration continued to
demand attention, new debates over same-sex marriage and
international peacekeeping would increasingly take the forefront. As of
2007, Stephen Harper is the Prime Minister of Canada, leading the Conservative
Party in a minority government.

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