History of Newfoundland - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

This article summarizes the history of Newfoundland which is now a Canadian province .

The first traces the human ones on the territory of Newfoundland goes back to 3.000 years before J. - C. Newfoundland was a English colony a long time before becoming a Canadian province in 1949.

Origins

Asian precursors

The first signs of human presence on the island of Newfoundland go back to approximately 3.000 years front J. - C. and concern “maritime antiquated Civilization”, culture of fishermen and hunters of marine animals. One notes the development of the work of wood, tumulus-tombs and full use of the red blood stone, on the coasts of the current seaboard provinces and of Newfoundland. This civilization dies out towards - 2000, possibly following the immersion of the continental shelf at that time.

Towards 850 av. J-C. the paléo-inuits arrive which occupy the island lasting approximately 700 years. Of Asian origin (Siberia), these Inuits emigrated several thousands of years ago while crossing the Bering Strait and while being established in North America. They are supplanted by the representatives of the Dorsets culture and, simultaneously by those of the culture “Recent Indian”, possible ancestors of the Béothuks. These two cultures occupy the island during the next millenium.

Vikings

The southernmost coasts were explored for the first time by Europeans towards the end of the 10th century by Erik the Red, a Viking originating in Iceland. Colonies Vikings were installed on the east coast of Greenland under its reign. One found vestiges with of them the Handle in Meadows. Colonization fails. The Scandinavian sagas let foresee that dissensions between the colonizers are perhaps not foreign there, just as the conflicts with the autochtones Skræling S (Béothuks? Dorsets?) According to the Scandinavian accounts last forwardings towards Vinland (Scandinavian designation of Newfoundland) will take place at the 12th century.

European fishermen and explorers

According to a report of 1710 of the files of St Jean de Luz, the Basque discover Newfoundland in 1392, probably with the continuation of cod. They settle there in 1505.

In the neighborhoods of 1390, three men, the Scottish count, exploring Henry Sinclair and the two Italian brothers Niccolo and Antonio Zeno will contribute to the exploration of the road of the Nord-Atlantique ocean. Towards 1390 Niccolo Zeno after the exploration of Scotland became naval officer for the account of Henry Sinclair. Niccolo undertakes to chart the littoral of Greenland in order to prepare a voyage towards grounds discovered in the west by various sailors. Niccolo dies into 1395 before this voyage. Antonio, made to Scotland, will be able to take note of the writings of his brother. Sinclair goes in 1398 to America on the territory of what will be later Newfoundland and the South-eastern coast of Canada.

As of the end of the 14th sièle, Breton sailors of Paimpol and Saint Malo, Norman sailors of Barfleur and Dieppe, finally those of the Basque Country leave to fish cod off the Canadian coasts and in the gulf of Saint Laurent. All these bold sailor-fishermen find themselves on the large island of Newfoundland in company of other valiant Irish and Portuguese navigators. The French sailors pay the dîme with king de France on Pescheries of the grounds neufves. As of this time, of the charts and others portulans circulates among the European navigators. Islands are clearly indicated to the West of the Atlantic Ocean; island of Antilia, island of Brasil, island of Bacalao, etc…

In 1472, the Portuguese explorer João Vaz Corte-Real goes on the island of Bacalhau on which the Portuguese sailor-fishermen have fished cod for one long period with their French counterparts. Terra Nova C Bacalhau (literally, Newfoundland of cods).

Thereafter, a forwarding returns in the area only in 1497 when Giovanni Cabotto, naturalized (John Cabot), explores the area on behalf of England and discovers in its turn the Grands Benches of cod of Newfoundland. The fishing and the exploitation of the natural wealths will mark the development of the island until our days.

In 1501, Gaspar de Corte-Real explores the east coast of North America on behalf of Portugal. It captures 50 Autochtones of the Labrador or Newfoundland to bring back them to Portugal.

In 1502 of the English fishermen start to attend the benches of Newfoundland, followed by the Norman ones in 1506, the Breton ones in 1510, then vessels of about all the European nations having a frontage on the Atlantic.

Towards 1530, 50 European fishing vessels come each year to fish cod, bringing a seasonal population of 1.250 people. At the same time, Inuits on part of the territory of Newfoundland enter in conflict with Beothuks, like with the white fishermen. Starting from 1580, the confrontations are endemic between Inuits and Européens.

In the middle of the colonial competitions

English takings possession

In 1578, the Queen of England, Elizabeth, conceded with Sir Humphrey Gilbert, brother-in-law of his favorite, Sir Walter Raleigh, “all countries remote payens and barbarians not currently had by prince or Christian people”.
on August 5th, 1583, Sir Humphrey took officially possession of Newfoundland. Majority of the European powers, whose France, had not wanted to recognize this taking possession. The English did not install there less their stations of fishing. This gesture will be followed, two years later, by the destruction of the Spanish fishing fleet by the admiral Drake.

It is in 1610 that John Guy, merchant English of Bristol-board, established in bay of the Design the first permanent colony in Newfoundland. It founds “Newfoundland Company” (in Cupids) in spite of a prohibition of the crown. The British government will refuse the statute of colony in Newfoundland during two centuries. Newfoundland Company will go bankrupt in 1631.
In 1623, George Calvert, who will become later Lord Baltimore, founded an establishment with Ferryland, from where it was withdrawn in 1629.

In 1611 the pirate Peter Easton builds a fort with Harbor Grace and, from there, scum the Atlantic. The place will become a colony of fishermen. The engagements start soon between British colonists and Béothuks. Those will be gradually pushed back towards the interior of the island. This operation in the current history would be regarded as a war crime.

In 1627, Sir John Calvert, Lord Baltimore, tries to found a colony of English Catholics with Ferryland.

In 1634, a royal decree appoints governor of Newfoundland the captain of the first ship to be approached in spring. It will be a long time the only government of the island.

In 1638, the corsair David Kirke takes possession of the properties of Lord Baltimore in Ferryland and appoints governor. He drives out the catholic colonists and replaces them by a hundred new colonists.

many other English stations will emerge thereafter on the Eastern coasts of Newfoundland.

French attempts

With various recoveries, at the instigation of influential French ship-owners, those of the La Rochelle, engaged in particular in the lucrative industry of fishing on the benches of Newfoundland, France had vigorously protested against the occupation of the island by the English.

It is however only into 1635 that the English will grant to the French fishermen the permission to make dry their cod catches on the shores of the island. At this point in time the picturesque bay of Pleasure, located on the southern part of Newfoundland, will become the principal center of activity of the French fisheries of the littoral of the island.

In 1658, the favor of the state of war which existed then between France and England, Louis XIV granted Nicolas Gargot of Rochette, captain with the long course, the marina, as hereditary stronghold, as well as a vast concession extending on twenty-six miles of depth in the area from the south from TerreNeuve.

In 1660, a royal commission designated Nicolas Gargot count de Plaisance and governor of the island.

In 1662, Louis XIV made strengthen Plaisance. It named governor, Thalour of the Perron, which was assassinated the following year, like its chaplain, by soldiers of his garrison. A few months later, a police chief of the king, the sior of Mounts, going to Quebec, made unload in Plaisance a detachment of soldiers as well as vivres and ammunition.

In 1663, the captain Nicolas Gargot, by leading to Quebec the new governor of News-France, of Mésy, as well as the first bishop of Quebec, Monseigneur de Laval, left in Plaisance several families of settlers. So that at the time, Plaisance had become a station cash strengthened some two hundred soldiers, colonists and fishermen.

At this point in time France decided to exert its sovereignty on all the southern part of the island of Newfoundland, of the Cape Race in the Cape Ray, like on the islands of the littoral.

With the census of 1687, this vast area grouped 36 families, the Basque majority of origin, like 488 engaged, training a total population of 663 people, of which 256 remained in Plaisance.* Starting from 1662 a French colony develops in the area of Pleasure In 1690, England being again in war with France, of the English flibustiers, come from the coasts of the east of Newfoundland, ransacked Plaisance, leaving the population in the most complete destitution. The majority of the inhabitants having taken the escape, he remained nothing any more but 150 French. De Prat was then governor.

The following year, on August 24th, 1691, the English tried a new attack against Plaisance, but the new governor, François de Brouillan, pushed back them. Then, after made of small detachments, which accompanied by the Basque sailors, De Brouillan went to the attack of the British establishments of the island that it devastated in its turn, best than it could.

The English attacked Plaisance again, in 1692 and 1693, but they could not succeed in dislodging the French of them.

Then, of the helps having arrived of France, of Acadie and News-France, De Brouillan took again the offensive. It left on September 9th 1696, with eight ships armed coming from Saint-Malo, in order to seize Midsummer's Day, chief town of the English coast of the island. Having undergone a failure, it was of return to Plaisance on October 17th to find there Pierre Moyne d' Iberville, arrived with its fleet since September 12th. At this point in time a new forwarding against the English stations of Newfoundland was organized.

November 1st 1696, Iberville started from Pleasure with 124 men in direction of Ferryland where De Brouillan had also directed its troops by boats. They carried out their junction there on November 6th. D' Iberville wanted initially to attack Carbonear, which could be taken only by surprise.

De Brouillan was opposed to it, insist that Midsummer's Day is besieged initially. D' Iberville agreed bad grace to it.

Arrived in front of Midsummer's Day, on November 28th 1696, Iberville seized in a few hours the first two forts and besieged the third which capitulated two days later. It launched then detachments of soldiers against the English chief town and the other stations which it plundered and destroyed during the winter. De Brouillan, whose contest had been to him little of value, was turned over to Plaisance on December 24th.

The confrontation showed losses of two hundred soldiers britannqiues and by the capture of 1,838 others. D' Iberville had destroyed the English stations spread out on the Eastern coast of Newfoundland, such as Midsummer's Day, the chief town; Petty Harbor, Bay bulldozers, Ferryland, Renews, Portugal Cove, Torbay, Wrap Holy Francis, Fermeuse, Aquaforte, Quidi Vidi, Brigus, Heart' S Content, Bay de Verde, Port Grove, Old Pelican and New Pelican. These various establishments included/understood a population then of: 2321 people, including 293 residents and: 2028 committed.

Carbonear had escaped with the destruction. In spring of 1697, of Iberville was on the point of attacking Bonavista when the Court of France ordered to him to go to Hudson Bay.

Pleasure is yielded to France.

Franco-English treaties

With the treaty of Ryswick, signed on September 25th, 1697, France and England went their conquests to America mutually. The French preserved Acadie and Plaisance and the English their establishments of Newfoundland. Moreover, France obtained, in the area of Pleasure, a vast territory extending on the coasts from south-west from the island, including/understanding bays of Pleasure, Fortune and the Hermitage. At the time, French stations had been established in Small-Pleasure, Point-Green, Bay-Fortune, Large-Bench, Hermitage like in the Saint-Pierre islands.

In 1704, again, French born in News-France, Jacques Testard de Montigny, ordering a forwarding of French militiamans and Abénakis, devastates the English establishments.
In 1705, the French support the installation of twenty-five micmaques families in Plaisance.
In 1708, it is the beginning of commercial fishing with salmon in the rivers by Georges Skiffington. Béothuks will be évincés little by little of the access to this resource in the years which follow by the British.

Pastour de Costebelle, which was the last governor of Pleasure, in a report/ratio with the minister Pontchartrain, dated October 28th 1708, gives of Newfoundland, in particular of the area of Pleasure, a detailed description from which we extract the following passages:

“The island of Terreneuve has three hundred miles of circuit of Cape in Cape, without deepening in the depression of the bays of which it is almost very formed. The grounds being extraordinarily crossed, the bay of Pleasure, which is caught from the Cape Sainte-Marie, has 24 miles of depth and 14 of width to the Cape Judas which forms the opening of it. It contains several islands of which the most observed are the Red Island and the Long Island which are not inhabited. There is no wood suitable for the construction and the mast of the vessels, except as regards Regent which one can draw some topmasts for buildings from 28 to 30 guns. Still is necessary it to cut twenty trees to find one of good of them. One should not hope this place to be able to provide wood of a true utility.
“Of the bottom of bay of Pleasure there are only three quarters of mile to bore to be able to join bay attended by the English, called the bay of the Trinity… Of a harbor called the degrat of Jean of Bordeaux, with three miles of Small the Pleasure, it are only seven miles of ground to cross to go in bay of the Design, from where you fall into bay from Coal-scuttle and of Coal-scuttle to Beautiful-Isle there are four miles…. You have in same bay the port of Postegrue, where it can wet only vessels of 60 barrels, according to the coast of the West until the course of distant Ray of that of Sainte-Marie of 80 miles we have harbors known and attended for the fishing with cod which are Large Martin, Small Martin, the Gravers, the Small one and the Large St. Lawrence and bay of Asne whose entry is very dangerous and one would not dare to sail there without pilot of the country. Prolonging the same coast you arrive at Isles Saint-Pierre on which the inhabitants cannot winter firewood fault… bay of Fortune uniting that of the Hopes has 25 to 30 miles of depth, it is that where all the inhabitants are of many 28 to 30 established families and make fishing in various stations… “The fishing of salmon is generally abundant in the funds of all the bays whose island of Newfoundland is filled where the rivers discharge from fresh water which are formed by the quantity of ponds which are on the island. The salmon which will seek the rapids during July and June to spread its seed abounds infinitely in this season, but they are much less large than in France. It is placed from there commonly in a barrel 80 to 90 of those which one has in the country.
“Fishing with the most advantageous cod being and most infallible destroys that of all other fish and it is the single one to which all the inhabitants stick, by not knowing others of a more assured flow nor which can provide to charge the quantity with the buildings which come in this port…
“The forests are only wood of sap, wild cherry tree and virginal, the others generally miss food by the ingratitude of the ground, having come in a certain size according to more or less from their advantageous situation very miss blow of sap and rotted their feet with the result that to find wood of it is for the mast or construction, it is necessary to cut down ten of them to have one of good of them.
“The hunting of the country most useful for the maintenance with its inhabitants is that of the stag or caribou, its wood is flat. The meat is extremely good and the hunters usually sell it to us six pennies delivers it: it is the difficulty and the distance of the transport which causes its dearness.
“We have many hares and of partridges, these two species bleach like snows in the winter and return in spring the hares less russet-red than to France and the partridges of the plumage of the gélinettes of wood, they often perch in the same way. There is place in all this continent where they are so good that in Plaisance for the quantity of small fruits rempants of which they are nourished and which they do not find elsewhere where the grounds are much longer covered with snow than on this island where we often have thaws in the winter months which should be hardest.
“If the inhabitants did not have more advantageous work than that to apply to the ordinary hunting, they could draw on this island, of the bears, the wolves, the foxes red and silver plated, of the beavers and the martens whose skins are of value, but they find still better their account to saw boards, to build boats, launches and to prepare during the winter all that is necessary to the fishing of the cods which from time immemorial provides fort great occupations to those which want to apply to it”.

In 1713, it is the Treaty of Utrecht. Newfoundland is yielded to Great Britain by the French. Pleasure is given up by the French, but colonists are maintained around Cape Ray.

The problem of the Indians

In 1729, a decree appoints governor of the whole of the island the most naval officer present. Henry Osborn, the first, names Justice of the Peace and founds permanent courts.
In 1730, a general confrontation bursts between Béothuks and Micmacs. Equipped with firearms, the seconds drive out the first of the west of the island. At the same time, Inuits drive out them northern coast of the island.
In 1762, it is the unloading of a French Army directed by Charles-Henri-Louis d' Arsac de Ternay who devastates the colony before being pushed back by a British army ordered by William Amherst.
In 1765, a treaty enters Inuits and the governor of Newfoundland, fine Hugh Palliser mets with the confrontations between Inuits and Britanniques.
In 1769 a proclamation prohibited with the British colonists to kill or maltreat Béothuks. It remains dead letter and two forwardings sent to contact the autochtones peacefully fail.
In 1771 in Labrador arrive Jens Haven and the first Moravian missionaries. This sect evangelic German will build a series of station of draft in country inuit and will évangélisera those.
During this period, the life in Newfoundland is also marked by the confrontations between Catholiques and Protestants, in 1778, it is the recall, by Westminster, of the “criminal laws” prohibiting the celebration of the catholic worship. The governor Richard Edward refuses to apply the measurement which comes into effect only in 1784. In 1794, the island will receive its first catholic bishop.
In 1783, consequence of the war of American Independence, France recovers fishing rights on the west coast of Newfoundland.
In 1784, the guerilla between colonists and Béothuks culminates with the massacre of a band from approximately sixty Béothuks by British colonists led by John Peyton Sr. “Masterless Men”, semi - outlaws of the southern part, are the first British with living inside. They live of hunting and plundering. They trace also the first ways.
In 1791 is created a “Court off Civil Jurisdiction” chaired by John Reeves. who will write a report/ratio on the urgency to help Béothuks threatened of extinction.
Towards 1800, one observes a dramatic fall of the salmon catches, decimated by surpêche, just as the extinction of certain species of birds of sea (Large Penguin) whose eggs were overexploited. Béothuks are private of two their sources of food.
the same year, the authorities discover a plot for a rising of the Irishmen of the island. They are denounced by the O'Donnell bishop. Five rebels are hung. 35.000 Irish will emigrate in Newfoundland in the three decades which follow.
Starting from 1808, William Carson starts a movement reformist, asserting a Parliament elected as in the British colonies. The island still has however like statute only that of “station of fishing”.
In 1817, for the first time, the governor, the Pickmore Vice-admiral, envisages to spend the winter in the island but he dies in February. Nevertheless, its successors will reside at St-John permanently.
the following year, of the riots takes place when famished unemployed plunder the reserves of food of their neighbors.
In 1820, a forwarding ordered by the captain Buchan cartography the interior of the island and fails in an ultimate attempt to tie friendly contacts with Béothuks. The British of Newfoundland made a genocide against Béotuks.

Change of status, reforms and agitation

Lastly, in 1824, the statute of the island passes from “station of fishing” to “Colony of the Crown”. The colony has its first governor resident at once, to sir Thomas Cochrane.
In 1827, the judge Of the Bars and tradesman W.E. Cormack found “The Boeothick Institution” with an aim of making contact with and of protecting Béothuks, like studying them. A forwarding ordered by Cormack finds only vestiges: Béothuks seem already disappeared. It is in 1829 that in St-John' S will die, Shanawdithit, the last of Béothuks… the extermination of Béotuks by the British of Newfoundland is regarded as a genocide.
In 1832, it is the creation of a room of Parliament and first elections legislative. The elections are often marked by interdenominational confrontations which make a death and several casualties in 1850.
After 1840, begins the expansion of hunting for the seals. More than 500.000 animals are killed and more than 400 ships take part in it annually.
In 1844, the island obtains a denominational, catholic school system and Protestant.
In 1855, the island obtains the ministerial responsibility with Philip Francis Little, liberal, like Prime Minister.
In 1866, the island becomes the terminus of the first transatlantic telegraphic cable.
With the elections of 1869, the voters reject a project of confederation with Canada.
In 1888 Saint John obtains the first municipal council of the colony and only until in 194 9. The following year, the government negociates a first loan in London.
In 1892, Wilfred Grenfell, doctor, begins the foundation of private clinics, hospital, co-operatives and schools before founding “International Grenfell Association” to collect funds. It becomes a virulent criticism of the institutions such as the debt of the fishermen and the denominational schools. This same year, the reduction in the herds of caribous of Labrador involves a famine which will make 150 dead at the Naskapis.
In 1894, it is the bankruptcy of Bank off Saint-John which involves an economic crisis. The Prime Minister Robert Bond must offer his personal fortune in guarantee to secure loans of the banks to the government. That revives the projects of confederation with Canada but in 1897 Canada refuses an application of annexation.
In 1902 takes place the first strike of the hunters of seals which try, without success, to obtain better work conditions. In 1908, the fishermen found Fishermen' S Protective Union (FPU) at the same time trade union and political party, under the direction of William Coaker. In 1909, it is the training of the trade union of fishermen (FPU) by W.F.Coaker
In 1904, France gives up its fisheries on “French Shore” following an global agreement with the United Kingdom. The government integrates the area into the colony.
In 1913, the FPU makes elect several deputies at the Parliament, of which W. Coaker.
In 1914, Newfoundland enters in war to the sides of the motherland and carries out the formation of an army corps which will be decimated with the Bataille of the Sum, in 1916.
In 1919 Newfoundland becomes a Dominion, which does not bring more stability. The government crumbles when the Catholics desert People' S Party under the pressure from the archbishop. The FPU seizes the power then.
As of 1920, it is the beginning of a long crisis connected to the debt of the country following the war. Attempt to regulate the fishing industry under the government of William Coaker. It will be a failure and the FPU will not be concerned any.
the government of Richard Squires is marked by a succession of scandals and ministerial instability. Five governments follow one another in two years in 1923 and 1924.
In 1924, it is the creation of Fisher' S Regulations board to regulate the fishing industry. The right to vote is granted to the women in 1925.
1927 sees the end of a long territorial litigation with Canada: The Private Council of London allots Labrador to Newfoundland.
In 1932, the government is with the barks and Imperial Oil grants to him a loan in exchange of a monopoly on the sale of the oil products to the country. A demonstration of unemployed with Saint John' S turns to the riot.
In 1933 of the riots caused by the famine occur in Labrador, which involves the creation of “Newfoundland Rangers”. A Joint Committee britano-ground-neuvienne considers the reform of the government in Newfoundland.
In 1934, the State is in bankruptcy. The debt servicing absorbs 63% of the incomes. The Parliament abolishes itself. In a gesture without precedent, the statute of Dominion is suspended and the United Kingdom imposes a government by a commission of officials appointed on London.

Canadian province

With the Second world war, the Canadians take the control of the airport of Gander and build an air base with Goose Bay, in Labrador. The Americans there station of the detachments and build harbor installations. In 1941 the island covers military bases. In 1943 more than 10.000 American soldiers and 6.000 Canadian occupy the country.
After the end of the war in 1946, the United Kingdom expresses the desire to separate from this expensive colony and a national convention is formed to study the “future shape of the government”.
Two referendums of self-determination will take place in 1948. The first referendum gave favor to the independence of Newfoundland with 45% compared with 41% for the annexation in Canada and 18% to remain a Dominion. The second referendum gave officially 52% in favor of the annexation to Canada against 48% for the independence of Newfoundland. The principal lawyer of this option, Joey Smallwood a member of the Labor Party rejoined with the liberal party, becomes Prime Minister and Newfoundland becomes it tenth Canadian province in 1949.

In 1955, it is the strike of the Corner Brooks and Grand loggers Falls, repressed by the Smallwood government which adopts laws antisyndicales rejected by the Worldwide organization of Work.
In 1961 it is the arrival of the first Soviet fishing fleet including/understanding 52 trawlers and 4 “vessel-mothers”. It is the beginning of a long international conflict on the fisheries which will worsen until the dramatic fall of the catches at the end of the twentieth century.
In 1963, it is the beginning of “Fisheries Household Resettlement Program”: closing of insolated villages with an aim of facilitating the access to the public services. More than 30.000 people “are relocated”. Prohibition of the right to strike in the hospitals and the schools.
In 1969, the conflict re-appears with Quebec: Stop of phase II of the hydro-electric project of Churchill Falls, in Labrador, following the dissension between the two provinces, Newfoundland finding that the current agreement favors too Quebec. Indeed, with the beginning of the year sixty, the Atlantic Province accepted an agreement by which the electricity of Labrador is sold withfixed rate with the French-speaking province. Quebec wants to reopen the file of the borders of Labrador, which Newfoundland refuses categorically.
In 1973 the oil refinery of As by Chance is open in large pump. It closes in 1975 and declares bankruptcy in 1976. Scandals imply the businessman John Shaheen, near to the ex TOKEN ENTRY Joey Smallwood. Ecologists come to express against hunting for the seals, which is the beginning of an international campaign.
In 1979 one discovers the oil-bearing field of Hibernia, off the island.
In 1981 International Grenfell Association yields its network of institutions to the provincial government.
In 2001, the Province adopts officially the name " Newfoundland and Labrador".
With the turning of the century, the promises of offshore oil rig oil are long in appearing and Newfoundland is still the Canadian province having the most unemployment rate and of poverty.

See too

External bond

Inheritance of Newfoundland and Labrador

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