The history of Canada covers the period from the arrival of the Paleo-Indians to North America thousands of years ago to the present day. Prior to European colonization, the lands encompassing present-day Canada were inhabited for millennia by Indigenous peoples, with distinct trade networks, spiritual beliefs, and styles of social organization. Some of these older civilizations had long faded by the time of the first European arrivals and have been discovered through archeological investigations.
The first European to reach Canada was likely the Norse explorer Leif Erikson, who landed in Newfoundland in the 11th century. However, the first permanent European settlements were established by the French in the 16th century. The French colony of New France grew rapidly, and by the 17th century it stretched from the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the Great Lakes.
In the 18th century, the British began to challenge French control of North America. The two countries fought a series of wars, including the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), which ended with the British victory and the cession of New France to Britain.
After the Seven Years' War, Britain began to encourage British settlement in Canada. The British North American colonies grew rapidly, and by the mid-19th century they were home to a large population of British and Irish immigrants.
In the 1860s, the British North American colonies began to discuss the possibility of uniting. In 1867, the British North America Act was passed, creating the Dominion of Canada. The Dominion of Canada was a self-governing dominion within the British Empire.
In the 20th century, Canada played a major role in both World Wars. After World War II, Canada became a founding member of the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
In the 1960s, Canada experienced a period of rapid social and political change. The country's constitution was patriated in 1982, and French was made an official language of Canada alongside English.
In the 21st century, Canada is a prosperous and diverse country. It is a member of the G7 and the G20, and it is a major trading partner with the United States and other countries around the world.
