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About This Quiz
Canada may sit just to the north of the United States, but it has a rich history all its own. From Aboriginals and First Nations, to European explorers forging through the harsh environment, to modern cities and settlements, Canadian history is equal parts turmoil and triumph. Take our quiz to see how much you know about the people, places and moments that make up the history of Canada.
What was John Hudson looking for when he discovered the bay that bears his name?
gold
spices
Northwest Passage
Like many other early Canadian explorers, John Hudson was seeking the Northwest Passage when he reached the Hudson Bay. Thanks to a mutiny, he was set adrift and likely died in or around the Bay in 1611.
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When did Canada strike its first domestic coin?
1908
The Ottawa Mint struck the country's first coin -- worth 50 cents -- in 1908.
1928
1948
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Who was Canada's first prime minister?
John MacDonald
John MacDonald was both the first and third prime minster to represent Canada, serving from 1867 to 1873 and again from 1878 to 1891.
Alexander Mackenzie
Justin Trudeau
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What was the name of explorer John Cabot's ship?
Mayflower
Matthew
British explorer John Cabot sailed to eastern Canada aboard the Matthew in 1497, making him the first European to claim land in Canada.
Maximus
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What does kanata mean in the Iroquoian language?
plains
snow
village
The name Canada comes from the Iroquoian word kanata, which means village.
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Which country established the first European settlement in Canada?
Spain
Denmark
France
The French were the first to establish European settlements in Canada, settling at Port-Royal, Nova Scotia in 1604.
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What did the Hudson's Bay Company specialize in?
gold mining
fur
In 1670, King Charles II granted a charter to Hudson's Bay Company, which specialized in selling North American furs to wealthy Europeans.
fishing
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What was Canada's population in the 1660 census?
3,418
In the first Canadian census, the country had a European population of just 3,418 in 1660. By 1739, that number had grown to more than 42,000.
34,180
341,800
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When was the famous Montreal Peace Treaty between the French and the Indians signed?
1601
1651
1701
Early European settlers to Canada faced fierce resistance from the Indians. The 1701 Montreal Peace Treaty was signed by 38 nations, including the Iroquois and promised to stop the bloodshed between natives and settlers.
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What city was home to Canada's first newspaper?
Toronto
Montreal
Halifax
The Halifax Gazette became Canada's first newspaper in 1752. The city was founded just three years prior and had a population of only 4,000 residents at the time.
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Fort Rouille sat on the site of this modern city.
Vancouver
Toronto
Founded in 1750, Fort Rouille was a hot spot for fur trading and would one day become the city of Toronto.
Ottawa
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What two countries fought in the Seven Years' War?
England and France
The 1763 Treaty of Paris ended the Seven Years' War and helped bring peace between French and English settlements in the New World.
Spain and France
England and Japan
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France gave up its mainland Canadian territories in the Treaty of Paris.
true
France forfeited its mainland territories in Canada after the Seven Years' War, clearing the path for British rule in the early days of Canadian history.
false
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What year was Canada divided in half thanks to The Constitutional Act?
1791
The Constitutional Act of 1791 split Canada into an Upper and Lower area. It also established government selected by the people, paving the way for modern democracy.
1841
1891
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What was Toronto known as before 1834?
Manitoba
Quebec
York
In 1834, York was renamed as Toronto, and the city was officially incorporated.
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What was featured on Canada's first stamp in 1851?
beaver
Released in April 1851, Canada's beaver stamp was the first known postage stamp in history to feature a picture of an animal, rather than a person.
maple leaf
fir tree
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What city was chosen as Canada's capital in 1857?
Toronto
Halifax
Ottawa
Queen Victoria selected Ottawa to serve as the capital of the Province of Canada in 1857. Before Ottawa, both Montreal and Toronto had a turn in the role of capital city.
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How many provinces did Canada have when it became a Dominion in 1867?
2
3
4
Canada went from Province to Dominion in 1867. At the time, Canada had just four provinces, including Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
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Canada took part in World War I.
true
Canada automatically became embroiled in World War I when Great Britain entered the conflict. At the start of the war, Canada had an Army of just 3,110 men.
false
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Canadian women won the right to vote before U.S. women.
true
Canadian women won the right to vote in all federal elections in 1918 -- two years before women's suffrage took effect in the U.S.
false
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What year was the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Force established?
1910
1920
The famous Canadian Mounties were formed in 1920 when the North-West Mounted Police and the Dominion Force merged.
1930
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What document officially gave Canada its independence from England?
Boston Document
Balfour Report
Canadian independence was cemented with the 1926 Balfour Report, which declared Canada a constitutional equal to England.
Bemis Scroll
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Canada avoided participation in World War II.
true
false
Unlike World War I, when Canada was forced into the war alongside Great Britain, Canada chose to declare war on Nazi Germany in 1939.
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How many Canadians died in World War II?
4,000
42,000
While Canada maintained an Army of just 4,500 soldiers at the start of World War II, more than 42,000 Canadians eventually died in the conflict.
450,000
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What year did Canada select its iconic red and white flag?
1965
Though red and white have served as the country's official colors since the 1920s, the red and white maple leaf flag wasn't chosen to represent the nation until 1965.
1975
1985
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What year did "Oh, Canada" get its English lyrics?
1888
1908
The English lyrics to the song were penned in 1908 by Robert Stanley Weir, but the music was composed back in 1880.
1928
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Canada has two official languages.
true
Thanks to the Official Languages Act of 1969, both English and French are considered official Canadian languages and are given equal status in the eyes of the law.
false
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What year did the Canadian Constitution Act go into affect?
1942
1962
1982
The country's Constitution, which outlines the laws of Canada and guarantees certain rights, went into effect in April 1982.
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What does Nunavut mean in the Iroquois language?
our land
Nunavut -- Iroquois for "our land" -- became Canada's third official territory in 1999. It's capital is Iqaluit, and it sits at the northern edge of the country close to the Arctic Circle.
free people
ice
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What is the population of Canada as of the 2006 Census?
31 million
Canada has around 31 million residents as of the 2006 Census. That's about one-tenth of the U.S. population.
310 million
3.1 billion
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You Got:
/30
