by Craig Hindmarsh

Created on: May 09, 2009

It's a big country, Canada. So big in fact, you would have thought there would have been enough space for both the British and the French. These two ancient foes, however, did not agree. The story of how Canada became part of the British Empire is intertwined with French history too.

In a sense, Canada did not become part of the British Empire - it was geographical and political concept carved out by the British and French over centuries. Before this, is was a wild land inhabited by various indiginous peoples - none of whom had any sense of a 'Canada'.

A certain John Cabot sailed acoss the Atlantic in 1497, and under the English flag explored would-be Canada's eastern coast. France's Jacque Cartier followed in 1534 - marking a foothold which would lead to a great many conflicts between these European superpowers.

Four Intercolonial wars took place between 1689 and 1763, with the British ultimately coming out on top.These conflicts were central to how Canada would develop. The French managed to hold their own during the first 3 episodes, but the highly productive British colonies, backed up by the powerful Royal Navy, proved too much for the French by the fourth and final installment.

The French had used relationships with the Native tribes to great effect in the early wars, but the French and Indian War between 1754 and 1763 marked France's relegation to second fiddle as regards Canada's political and cultural development.

As European super states carved up Africa, South East Asia and North and South America, it was only a matter of time until one of them annexed this huge, resource-rich land, where nature was far from being tamed. In the event, it was Britain which placed its own monarch at the head of Canada's government and whose own parliament became the model for this new country's own legislative body.

Friction between the French and British colonists started to lessen over time, particularly after the Act of Union 1840, which saw French rights reinstated. The nation of Canada as we know it today was solidified by the Constitution Act of 1867. Canada proved to be a valuable nation to have such close ties with, assisting Great Britain through 2 world wars, supplying both highly effective military personnel and a wealth of natural resources.

Ultimately, Britain and France brought about the formation of Canada, and this wild land slowly got sliced up, labelled, and then farmed by these nation's colonists. To answer the title question, Canada came into existence concurrently with becoming a part of the British Empire.

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