User:Mathieugp/drafts/History of the French Canadians

The History of the French Canadians, a cultural group and nation which originated in Canada, New France, began in 1608, year of the foundation of Québec City by Samuel de Champlain.

1608-1663
(weak emigration, no population policy)

1663-1763
(Jean Talon, high birthrate, colonization outside the St. Lawrence River banks)

During the mid-18th century, settlers born in French Canada colonized other parts of North America in what are today the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, the Windsor-Detroit region and the Canadian prairies (primarily Southern Manitoba).

Together with the French, the French Canadians were often pioneers among the explorers and settlers Louisiana territory. Nevertheless, the French settlement of Louisiana was not as successful as that of Canada. In 1742, the entire colonial population of Louisiana (French, French Canadian, and Acadian) was estimated at 4000 white people and some 6000 black slaves.

1763-1791
(continued growth of the population made possible because of the American conflict)

1791-1840
(Lower Canada, movement for constitutional reform)

1840-1930
(Union, beginning of uncontrolled emigration out of Quebec, colonization of Laurentides, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Mauricie etc. in response)

Between the 1840s and the 1930s, some 900 000 French Canadians emigrated to the New England region. About half of them returned home. The generations born in the United States would eventually come to see themselves as Franco-Americans. During the same period of time, numerous French Canadians also emigrated and settled in Eastern and Northern Ontario. The descendants of those Quebec immigrants constitute the bulk of today's Franco-Ontarian community.

1930-1960
(Economic depression stops mass emigration outside Quebec, rapid urbanization, rise of independence movement)

1960-
(Quiet revolution, language crisis, economic and social progress)