So, I live in the grand old US of A. Independence Day is only three days away for us! But, before WE celebrate the birthday of the red, white, and blue, our next door neighbors deserve a hoot, holler, and a happy birthday wish, as well.
So, I wish a wonderful 146th birthday to the Maple Leaf-ers up north!
HAPPY B-DAY LITTLE SIBLINGS OF THE CONTINENT!!!! XD
So, yes. Today is officially known as Canada Day. A day of celebration for the Canadians finally gained THEIR independence from England just as we had 91 years earlier. A little late on the draw, if you ask me, but well worth it for our friendly brothers and sisters up above, don't you think?
However, a lot went on before it actually became a country.
Like America, Canada started out as a place inhabited by the native tribes such as the Ojibwa Inuit, Algonquin, Motagnais tribes, and many many more. (The ones I listed are only four of the ones found in Quibec.) Many people believe they passed over and area of land that is now covered in water between what we know as Alaska and Russia, and down through the melting glaciers that once covered the land.
The area was explored by two Frenchmen by the names of Jacques Cartier and Saint Lawrence River in 1534 and was then colonized and named "New France." Like the States' own 13, New France was divided up into five colonies: Acadia, Canada, Hudson Bay, Louisiana, and Newfoundland or Plaisance. However, Acadia, Newfoundland, and the Hudson Bay were given to Spain and England in 1713 with the Treaty of Utrecht, which ended the War of the Spanish Succession. The rest of New France (not including the St. Pierre and Miguelon islands) were also given to England and Spain in 1763 as a result of the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Seven Years (or French and Indian) War.
In secret, Spain returned the part of Louisiana it had received to France in 1800 with the Treaty of San Ildefonso. Talk about messed up politics, in my opinion, because it was sold to the USA only three years later with the Louisiana Purchase. So, the French gave up trying to colonize North America. (Which I find slightly amusing seeing as they still speak French...)
Several other wars took place in what is now known as Canada between its colonization and the Rebellions of 1837, which is really what set off the Canadian Revolution. The War of 1812 and the American Revolution are the major two wars.
(All this serious historical stuff is hurting my brain so it's time for a little fun fact! Did you know that in the 1600's, the king of France sent over 700 women to New France so the mostly male population could grow? They were known as the "King's Daughters.")
The Rebellions of 1837 were caused by a rather similar mindset when it came to revolutions like the American and French: government that were there to help the people, not themselves. Now, there were two different rebellions: one in Lower-Canada (which began the November of 1837) and one in Upper-Canada (which began in December of the same year). The Upper-Canadian rebellion ended at the Battle of Montgomery's Tavern on December 7, 1837. Yeah. The English pretty much crushed them.
On of the rebel leaders, William Lyon Mackenzie, established the Republic of Canada in the Niagra River (on Navy Island) but gave up not long after when the English came a-knocking with weapons. Other rebels that had fled to the USA made a small little army of mostly Americans called the Hunter's Lodge. In 1838 they held a convention in Cleveland and declared the Republic of Lower Canada.
Don't get cocky, Americans, it's only because we had the "strength" of a country, but the Patriot War was fought and held off thanks to the help of the American Government. Unfortunately, once again, the Canadian efforts were ended when the English defeated the rebels and Hunters almost a year after Montgomery's Tavern at the Battle of the Windmill.
Well, Canada's history isn't very fun. Then again, the histories of many countries aren't. So, In 1867, Canada formed the Confederation, unifying several of the colonies. Technically, all of Canada was still under English rule until the Statute of Westminsterin was put into place in 1931, which gave the Dominion of Canada a lot of power. Even then, Canada was completely independent until 1982 when the Canada Act was put into place and all control of the country's constitution was handed over.
It actually took a lot longer than you realized, didn't it?
Today, Canada is one big happy, friendly, and polite country with 13 provinces and a lot of amazing people.
So, again I wish my Canadian siblings a super happy birthday! It was well-deserved!! And I, for one, am proud to live next door (almost) to the country that is globally known as the friendliest. ;)
Hannah Haugen
The Daily Blahgger
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