In the 1600s, both England and France were exploring and colonizing all over the world. Canada it was no exception. The rivalry for land and wealth brought English and French fighting to the country. That fighting extended all across the North American continent.
Animals were one of Canada’s abundant natural resources. And the fur trade made Canada an extremely attractive landscape. Both countries wanted to control the land where the fur trade would happen. Their desire for power led to war between the British and the French colonists from starting in 1689. The British finally won in 1759 and within four years, France surrendered all of its claims in Canada and what would become the United States. Look at this map of the area from 1700.
In 1867, the British gave some freedoms to Canada. These rules, called the Dominion of Canada, allowed the country to establish its own government with some restrictions about foreign policy and military action. In 1931, Canada became completely independent of England.
North America in 1700
What factors probably made it easier for the British to win control of the land in Canada from the French?
Though they controlled a smaller amount of the land, the British population was larger and they controlled most of the coastal lands.
