Canada (New France)
Canada | |||||||||
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| 1534–1763 | |||||||||
The royal banner of early modern France or "Bourbon Flag" was the most commonly used flag in New France
The lesser coat of arms of France as used by the Government
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| Anthem: Marche Henri IV ("March of Henri IV") | |||||||||
Map of Canada after 1713. At its fullest extent, Canada extended from south of the Great Lakes to the Gulf of St Lawrence. | |||||||||
| Status |
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| Capital | Quebec | ||||||||
| Official languages | French | ||||||||
| Religion | Catholic Church (state religion) | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
| King | |||||||||
• 1534–1547 | Francis I (first) | ||||||||
• 1715–1763 | Louis XV (last) | ||||||||
| Viceroy/Governor General | |||||||||
• 1541–1543 | Jean-François Roberval (first) | ||||||||
• 1755–1763 | Pierre de Rigaud (last) | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
• French territorial possession | 1534 | ||||||||
• Founding of Quebec | 1608 | ||||||||
• Founding of Trois-Rivières | 1634 | ||||||||
• Founding of Montreal | 1642 | ||||||||
| 10 February 1763 | |||||||||
| 7 October 1763 | |||||||||
| Population | |||||||||
• 1740 survey | 48,500 | ||||||||
| Currency | New France livre | ||||||||
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| Today part of | |||||||||
Canada was a French colony within New France. It was claimed by France in 1534 during the first voyage of Jacques Cartier in the name of the French king, Francis I. The colony remained a French territory until 1763, when it became a British colony known as the Province of Quebec at the end of the global Seven Years' War.
In the 16th century the word Canada could refer to the territory along the Saint Lawrence River (then known as the Canada River) from Grosse Isle to a point between Québec and Trois-Rivières. The terms "Canada" and "New France" were also used interchangeably. French explorations continued west "unto the Countreys of Canada, Hochelaga, and Saguenay" before any permanent settlements were established. In 1600 a permanent trading post and habitation was established at Tadoussac at the confluence of the Saguenay and Saint Lawrence rivers. However, because this trading post was under a trade monopoly, it was not constituted as an official French colonial settlement.
The first official settlement of Canada was Québec, founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608. The other four colonies within New France were Hudson's Bay to the north, Acadia and Newfoundland to the east, and Louisiana far to the south. Canada became the most developed of the five colonies of New France. It was divided into three districts, Québec, Trois-Rivières, and Montreal, each with its own government. The governor of the District of Quebec also served as the governor-general for all of New France.
The Seven Years' War of 1756–1763 saw Great Britain defeat the French and their allies, and take possession of Canada. In the Treaty of Paris of 1763, which formally ended the Seven Years' War, France ceded Canada in exchange for other colonies, with a large portion of Canada becoming the British colony of the Province of Quebec.