North American Place Names

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The Changing Borders of North America

Since the colonization of the North American Continent in the 16th century by various European nations, and until the 20th century with the creation of Nunavut, Canada in 1999, the borders of the North American continent have been unstable and difficult to track. This is an attempt to shed some light on the changing borders over time. While it doesn't claim to be perfect it is intended to be an easy reference for researchers trying to track those changes.

There are three good resources that help shed light on the changing borders.

1. Territorial Evolution of North America prior to 1763 Wikipedia interactive maps maps of the changing borders of Canada, the United States and Mexico over time prior to the Treaty of Paris, 1763.
2. Territorial Evolution of North America since 1763 Wikipedia interactive maps maps of the changing borders of Canada, the United States and Mexico over time since the Treaty of Paris, 1763.
3. Atlas of Historical County Boundaries Maintained by The Newberry Library Dr. William M. Scholl Center for American History and Culture "presents in maps and text complete data about the creation and all subsequent changes (dated to the day) in the size, shape, and location of every county in the fifty United States and the District of Columbia."

United States

British Red Ensign

Betsy Ross Flag

United States Flag

Evidence For The Use of United States

First Continental Congress

Between September 5 to October 26, 1774 twelve of the thirteen colonies, excluding Georgia who didn't send delegates due to turmoil in the colony, met at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to address their grievances after passage, by the British Parliament, of the "Intolerable Acts" also called the "Coercive Acts" by England. These acts were passed as punishment of the colonies for the "Boston Tea Party" of December 16, 1773. Their petitions to England were subsequently ignored by the Crown.

Second Continental Congress

The Second Continental Congress met from 1774 to 1789 and included representatives from all thirteen colonies. On September 9, 1776 the Second Continental Congress declared “That in all continental commissions, and other instruments, where, heretofore, the words ‘United Colonies’ have been used, the stile be altered for the future to the “United States.” This then links any reference to the "United Colonies" with the "United States".

Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

"We, therefore, the representatives of the 'United States of America', in General Congress assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name and by the authority of the good people of these colonies solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; and that, as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

Provincial Canada

New France 1663-1763

British Canada 1763-1801

British Canada 1801-1965 '

Canada 1965-Present

What is now Canada was from 1534-1763 originally a French colony called Nouvelle-France or New France which began with the exploration by Jacques Cartier in 1534. In 1763 the French ceded it's northern colonial holdings to Spain and Great Britain. The British subsequently named their territory the Province of Quebec in 1763.

In the colonial period, the borders of what is now Canada and the United States changed hands several times. Initially the area was controlled by the native populations. But beginning in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, the French and then the British fought over the control of Canada. The early governments were fairly unstable and, as the borders changed, so did the location names.

Alberta

The Native American population of the area which became Alberta, Canada arrived in the area at lest by 10,000 BC. They became a confederation of Blackfoot speaking tribes called the Siksikaitsitap (meaning "the real people"') made up of the Kainai Nation, the Piegan Blackfeet, the Piikani Nation, and the Siksika Nations.

The first European to arrive in the area was a Frenchman, probably Pierre La Vérendrye or a son. The area was claimed by the Hudson Bay Company in 1670 "as part of its monopoly territory, Rupert's Land" (See the History of Alberta below). However the first recorded occupants of Alberta were English settlers one of whom was Alexander MacKenzie who founded a settlement named Fort Chipewyan.

• Indian Tribes of Alberta
• Blackfoot Confederacy
• History of Alberta
• Alberta, Canada

British Columbia

These areas were primarily not governed directly by Canada until the late 19th century when gold was found in the Yukon. That discovery was the catalyst for the Klondike Gold Rush generating an influx of mostly US citizens to the area, causing the Canadian government to attempt control over the number of prospectors entering Canada. Prior to this, the Canadian government was content to allow the First Nations population to self-govern the land.

• Indians of British Columbia
• British Columbia First Nations
• History & Heritage of British Columbia

Île-du-Prince-Édouard, (Prince Edward Island)

Prince Edward Island (PEI) is a maritime province consisting of Prince Edward Island and several much smaller islands located off the east cost of mainland Canada. The island's indigenous inhabitants were the Mi'kmaq First Nations people who called the island Epekwitk meaning "cradled on the waves". In 1534 Frenchman Jacques Cartier was the first European to discover the area. The French officially claim the discovery in 1604 naming it Île Saint-Jean. In 1763 it became a British colony which they called St. John's Island. However, in 1798 the United Kingdom granted permission to rename it Prince Edward Island so as to distinguish it from other places in the area such as the city of St Johns. In 1873 PEI became a province of Canada.

• Indian Tribes of Prince Edward Island
• First residents and the Arrival of the Europeans
• French settlement in the 1700s
• English Settlement - 1700s to Confederation
• Confederation

Manitoba

Manitoba was first inhabited by the First Nations people not long after the last Ice Age when the glaciers began to retreat northward. Those first nations included the Ojibwa, Cree, Dene, Sioux, Mandan, and Assiniboine peoples.

Sir Thomas Button, a member of the "Company of the Merchants Discoverers of the North-West Passage" was the first European explorer of the area which is now modern-day Manitoba in 1612 while trying to find a trade route to China. It's speculated that the name "Manitoba" may come from the Cree, Ojibwe peoples and means "Strait of the Manitou". Another possibility is that it might be from the Assiniboine people and translates to "Lake of the Prairie".

• Indian Tribes of Manitoba
• Native American Nations

New Brunswick

New Brunswick became a province when Nova Scotia was divided into the Province of Nova Scotia and the Province of New Brunswick. In 1785 the city of St John became the first incorporated city in Canada

• Indian Tribes of New Brunswick

Newfoundland

• Indian Tribes of Newfoundland

Nova Scotia

• Indian Tribes of Nova Scotia

Ontario

In 1792 the area of Canada we now call "Ontario" was established and has gone through several name changes. In 1791 the Constitutional Act divided Canada with the area we now call Ontario becoming Upper Canada, The Act of Union in 1841 renamed the area Canada West. The Constitution Act of 1867 combined Ontario and Quebec into the Province of Canada.

• Indian Tribes of Ontario
• The Changing Shape of Ontario

Québec

The French began visiting the area of Québec as early as 1509 when a Frenchman named Thomas Auber, possibly a fisherman, brought back to France a few Amerindians. On June 24, 1534, Jacques Cartier claimed the area in the name of King François I of France. after placing a cross on the Gaspé Peninsula. In 1608 Samuel de Champlain, who planted the fleur-de-lis (the flag of the French Monarchy) on the rock of Stadacona (Québec city). and chose Québec city as the capital. Québec has also gone through several name changes. In 1791 the Constitutional Act divided Canada with the area we now call Québec becoming Lower Canada. The Act of Union in 1841 renamed the area Canada East. The Constitution Act of 1867 combined Ontario and Québec into the Province of Canada.

• Indian Tribes of Quebec

Saskatchewan

• Indian Tribes of Saskatchewan

Northwest Territories

• Indian Tribes of Northwest Territories

Resources

United States

• Native Languages of the Americas: Preserving and promoting American Indian languages
• Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library, Dr. William M. Scholl Center for American History and Culture
• Territorial evolution of North America prior to 1763 Wikipedia interactive maps maps of the changing borders of Canada, the United States and Mexico over time prior to the Treaty of Paris, 1763.
• Territorial Evolution of North America since 1763 Wikipedia interactive maps maps of the changing borders of Canada, the United States and Mexico over time 'since the Treaty of Paris, 1763.
• History.com The 13 Colonies
• The Avalon Project. Documents in Law, History, and Diplomacy, Yale Law School, Lillian Goldman Law Library
• Wikipedia - Thirteen Colonies
• Wikipedia - Continental Congress
• Internet Archive, A non-profit library of millions of free books, movies, software, music, websites, and more.

Canada

• Native Languages of the Americas: Preserving and promoting American Indian languages
• The Changing Shape of Ontario
• Territorial evolution of North America prior to 1763 Wikipedia interactive maps maps of the changing borders of Canada, the United States and Mexico over time prior to the Treaty of Paris, 1763.
• Territorial Evolution of North America since 1763 Wikipedia interactive maps maps of the changing borders of Canada, the United States and Mexico over time since the Treaty of Paris, 1763.
• Ontario Ministry of Government and Consumer Services
• "Canada East, Canada West"
• Marianopolis College - L’Encyclopédie de l’histoire du Québec / The Québec History Encyclopedia
• Encyclopedia Britannica Article on Québec