An Introduction to Canadian History

Course Code

HIST 150

Academic Year

2016-2017

Canada is a dynamic, prosperous, and desirable place to call home. Around the world, Canada has a reputation for being a good, and perhaps even great, country. It is a prosperous and peaceful nation; it has universal health care; a generous immigration policy; an impressive military record; and a generally high standard of living. Canada's reputation as a bad country is not, however, as well-known globally. For example, uniting Canada after the Battle of Quebec in 1759 has been a 250 year process of reconciliation. Some Canadians believe the best solution is no Canada at all! In Quebec, and in other regions of the country, sovereignty movements and forces have threatened to separate from Canada. Even fewer know about Canada's ugly spots: Aboriginal suffering at the hands of both the French and English; Aboriginals who died from smallpox and other diseases after 1600; injustices experienced by Japanese, Ukrainian and German Canadians; unjust anti-Chinese laws of the early twentieth century; Sikh immigrants refused entry into Canada; Jewish refugees turned away at Canadian borders. Although Canada is a good county, it history is checkered with some bad and ugly moments. In this course, we will examine Canada's history and the political, social, economic and cultural challenges that Canada faces in the 21th century.