History of Ontario

The history of Ontario traces Indigenous societies, European colonization, settlement, and political change in the region that became a Canadian province in 1867.

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Indigenous peoples in Canada: The diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples whose homelands and communities span what is now Canada. Ontario's history begins with the distinct Indigenous nations that lived across the region.
Treaty of Paris (1763): The agreement that ended the Seven Years' War and transferred New France to British rule. It placed the region under British authority and opened a new phase of colonial government.
William Lyon Mackenzie: A Scottish-born Canadian journalist and politician who led the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion. His rebellion challenged the colonial elite and became a turning point in reform politics.
Upper Canada Rebellion: An 1837 uprising against colonial rule in Upper Canada, led by William Lyon Mackenzie. Its defeat prompted political investigation and helped accelerate reforms to colonial government.
War of 1812: A war fought from 1812 to 1815 between the United States and Britain, including its North American colonies and Indigenous allies. Battles and alliances in the Great Lakes region shaped Upper Canada's security and identity.
Huron–Wendat: An Indigenous people whose historic homeland included parts of southern Ontario and whose communities continue today. Their homeland and encounters with French traders shaped early colonial histories around the Great Lakes.
Royal Proclamation of 1763: A British Crown declaration that organized North American territories and recognized Indigenous land rights and treaty processes. Its framework shaped colonial expansion and Crown–Indigenous relations in the region.
John Graves Simcoe: The first lieutenant governor of Upper Canada, serving from 1791 to 1796. He founded York and shaped early colonial institutions and settlement policy.
Responsible government: A system in which a colonial executive must retain the confidence of the elected assembly. Its adoption changed how Ontario's predecessor colonies were governed.
Rebellions of 1837–1838: A series of uprisings against colonial rule in Upper and Lower Canada in 1837 and 1838. The Upper Canadian revolt formed part of a wider crisis that drove constitutional reform.