When is Canada's Independence Day?

When is Canada’s Independence Day?

Posted On: March 14, 2023

COMPAS.com – On July 1, 1867, the three British colonies united to form Canada.
Currently, July 1 is celebrated as Canada Day or Canada Day.

By most people, Canada Day is considered and celebrated as Canada’s Independence Day.

Currently, Canada Day is a national holiday in Canada.

However, on July 1, 1867, Canada could not truly be said to have achieved full independence.

July 1, 1867 is more accurately referred to as the anniversary or founding of Canada. So when is Canada’s Independence Day? Here is the history.

Colonial Canada

Canada is a federation in North America which currently consists of 10 provinces and three territories.

In ancient times, the area that is now the country of Canada was inhabited by the Iroquois and other indigenous peoples.

It was not until the end of the 15th century that colonialism began with the arrival of Europeans.

France became the first foreign nation to establish a colony on Canadian territory in 1604.

The French movement was followed by the United Kingdom, which established colonies in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Hudson Bay.

The Iroquois helped Europeans navigate waterways and jungles. Instead, they traded in furs which were then exchanged for European goods.

At the same time, the arrival of Europeans also threatened the lives of the native population.

This was due to diseases brought by Europeans and the fur trade which, in its development, sparked conflicts between natives and immigrants.

Additionally, European colonizers also began to fight for land power in Canada. The consequences of the conflict were the outbreak of the Seven Years’ War (1756-1763), which the British eventually won.

Canadian birth

In the middle of the 19th century, present-day Canada was divided into three British colonies, namely the Province of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Fueled by fear of possible American aggression and economic motives, colonial politicians and the public began to entertain the idea of merging the three colonial territories into a single self-governing confederation.

With British support, representatives of the colonies began to negotiate the unification of the territories in 1864.

In 1867, the British Parliament passed the British North America Act or the Constitution Act of 1867, creating a new state known as Domini Canada or Dominion of Canada.

Domin or domini is a semi-independent state under the British Empire.

Dominion can also be interpreted as an independent and self-governing country, but a member of the Commonwealth of the mother country, in this case England.

At that time, Canada consisted of four provinces, including Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. During this time, the former Province of Canada was divided into two provinces, namely Ontario and Quebec.

The law establishes the federal government and the formation of the provinces, and forms the basis of the Canadian constitution.

The constitution came into effect on July 1, 1867, which is now celebrated as Canada Day or Canada Day.

Canada’s Journey to Independence

Although Canada is established, its journey to independence is not over.

The Act effectively only made Canada semi-independent from the United Kingdom, as its government did not yet have full autonomy.

In its development, Canada is slowly becoming more and more independent.

During World War I, Canada and other British dominions, such as South Africa, sought formal recognition of its independence.

On December 11, 1931, the British Parliament granted this recognition, marked by the adoption of the Statute of Westminster.

Subsequently, on April 17, 1982, the new Canada officially adopted its own constitution, independent of the interference of the British Parliament.

On this day, Queen Elizabeth II also declared Canada’s independence from the British Parliament. It was then that Canada officially acquired full sovereignty.

However, most Canadians consider the celebration of their country’s independence to take place on July 1, Canada Day, which is actually the day Canada was founded.

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