The Commonwealth countries: major dates

Question 1

15th-16th centuries

Answer 1

East India Companies start trading with India.

Question 2

1534

Answer 2

Jacques Cartier establishes a French settlement near the St. Lawrence, in Canada. At the end of the century, the country is inhabited by Eskimos, Indians, and a few white settlers and traders.

Question 3

1650-1700

Answer 3

South Africa is settled by the Dutch, the French Huguenots and the Germans.

Question 4

17th century

Answer 4

Beginning of the French colonization in Canada, chiefly along the St. Lawrence River. Quebec and Montreal are established. But there is British colonization as well, with the Hudson Bay Company, trading in fish and fur, which leads to rivalry and conflict between the two companies.

Question 5

1763

Answer 5

Treaty of Paris: France sells Quebec to British and British supremacy is declared over India.

Question 6

1769

Answer 6

Cook reaches New Zealand and claims it for Britain. The land is inhabited by Maoris. British convicts are sent there.

Question 7

1770

Answer 7

Cook reaches the east coast of Australia and takes possession of Sydney for Britain. The land is inhabited by Aboriginals.

Question 8

1787

Answer 8

Britain starts using Australia as a penal colony.

Question 9

19th century

Answer 9

Important voluntary immigration from Britain. Convicts stop being sent to Australia around 1840.

Question 10

1840

Answer 10

Treaty of Waitangi: New Zealand becomes a British colony and the Mahori chiefs recognize the British sovereignty over the Island. Many conflicts with the Maoris.

Question 11

1846

Answer 11

The boundary between the United States and Canada is established along the 49th parallel, all the way to the Pacific coast.

Question 12

1867

Answer 12

British North America Act: the British colonies become a dominion. It consists of Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Question 13

1869

Answer 13

Britain cedes the Hudson’s Bay Company territories to Canada. They will form the remaining Canadian provinces.

Question 14

1876

Answer 14

Queen Victoria becomes Empress of India.

Question 15

1881

Answer 15

First Boer War in South Africa, won by the Boers (Dutch settlers).

Question 16

1885

Answer 16

Nigeria becomes a British protectorate.

Question 17

1899-1902

Answer 17

Second Boer War in South Africa, between Britain and the Afrikaners (descendants of the Dutch colonies), won by Britain.

Question 18

1901

Answer 18

Australia becomes independent.

Question 19

1907

Answer 19

New Zealand becomes a dominion.

Question 20

1910

Answer 20

South Africa Act: the different states become the Union of South Africa, which enters the Commonwealth.

Question 21

1919

Answer 21

Ghandi starts non-violent anti-British resistance in India. He advocates civil disobedience to gain independence.

Question 22

1927

Answer 22

Canberra becomes the capital of Australia.

Question 23

1931

Answer 23

Canada becomes a member of the Commonwealth.

Question 24

1934

Answer 24

Creation of the National Party in South Africa, for the political domination of Afrikaners, who were in favour of separating the black and white communities.

Question 25

1947

Answer 25

India gains independence. It is partitioned between India (mostly Hindus) and Pakistan (mostly muslims); New Zealand becomes independent within the Commonwealth.

Question 26

1948

Answer 26

Ghandi is assassinated. Nehru becomes Prime Minister of India. The National Party is elected in South Africa.

Question 27

1951

Answer 27

The Gold Rush brings waves of immigrants to Australia.

Question 28

1960

Answer 28

The Union of South Africa becomes a republic and leaves the Commonwealth. An apartheid policy is introduced. The white race is separed from the other races. Opposition parties, like the A.N.C. (African National Congress), are banned and their leaders imprisoned. Nigeria gains its independence and remains in the Commonwealth.

Question 29

1961

Answer 29

Riots against apartheid in the black township of Soweto, South Africa.

Question 30

1967

Answer 30

The Aboriginal Australians are given full citizenship. Since WWII, there has been much immigration to Australia, especially from Southeast Asia. The Aboriginal people still live in great poverty.

Question 31

1971

Answer 31

Eastern Pakistan wins its independence from Western Pakistan and becomes Bangladesh.

Question 32

1982

Answer 32

Constitution Act: Canada remains within the Commonwealth but ceases to be a colony.

Question 33

1989

Answer 33

De Klerk becomes president of South Africa. Mandela (imprisoned for his role in the A.N.C.) is released from prison and apartheid laws are abolished.

Question 34

1993

Answer 34

Mandela and De Klerk are awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Question 35

1994

Answer 35

Mandela becomes the first black President in the history of South Africa.

Question 36

1998

Answer 36

South Africa starts a policy of Affirmative Action to help black people. Although many problems persist, South Africa is now a prosperous country with a steadily growing economy.

Question 37

1999

Answer 37

Thabo Mbeki becomes President of South Africa. Programs are established to help with the huge remaining disparities btw. blacks and whites. However, huge differences still remain, and the country is also plagued by the A.I.D.S. epidemic, poverty, violence and unemployment.

Question 38

2001

Answer 38

In a referendum, Australia decides to remain a constitutional monarchy.

Question 39

East India Companies start trading with India.

Answer 39

15th-16th centuries

Question 40

Jacques Cartier establishes a French settlement near the St. Lawrence, in Canada. At the end of the century, the country is inhabited by Eskimos, Indians, and a few white settlers and traders.

Answer 40

1534

Question 41

South Africa is settled by the Dutch, the French Huguenots and the Germans.

Answer 41

1650-1700

Question 42

Beginning of the French colonization in Canada, chiefly along the St. Lawrence River. Quebec and Montreal are established. But there is British colonization as well, with the Hudson Bay Company, trading in fish and fur, which leads to rivalry and conflict between the two companies.

Answer 42

17th century

Question 43

Treaty of Paris: France sells Quebec to British and British supremacy is declared over India.

Answer 43

1763

Question 44

Cook reaches New Zealand and claims it for Britain. The land is inhabited by Maoris. British convicts are sent there.

Answer 44

1769

Question 45

Cook reaches the east coast of Australia and takes possession of Sydney for Britain. The land is inhabited by Aboriginals.

Answer 45

1770

Question 46

Britain starts using Australia as a penal colony.

Answer 46

1787

Question 47

Important voluntary immigration from Britain. Convicts stop being sent to Australia around 1840.

Answer 47

19th century

Question 48

Treaty of Waitangi: New Zealand becomes a British colony and the Mahori chiefs recognize the British sovereignty over the Island. Many conflicts with the Maoris.

Answer 48

1840

Question 49

The boundary between the United States and Canada is established along the 49th parallel, all the way to the Pacific coast.

Answer 49

1846

Question 50

British North America Act: the British colonies become a dominion. It consists of Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Answer 50

1867

Question 51

Britain cedes the Hudson's Bay Company territories to Canada. They will form the remaining Canadian provinces.

Answer 51

1869

Question 52

Queen Victoria becomes Empress of India.

Answer 52

1876

Question 53

First Boer War in South Africa, won by the Boers (Dutch settlers).

Answer 53

1881

Question 54

Nigeria becomes a British protectorate.

Answer 54

1885

Question 55

Second Boer War in South Africa, between Britain and the Afrikaners (descendants of the Dutch colonies), won by Britain.

Answer 55

1899-1902

Question 56

Australia becomes independent.

Answer 56

1901

Question 57

New Zealand becomes a dominion.

Answer 57

1907

Question 58

South Africa Act: the different states become the Union of South Africa, which enters the Commonwealth.

Answer 58

1910

Question 59

Ghandi starts non-violent anti-British resistance in India. He advocates civil disobedience to gain independence.

Answer 59

1919

Question 60

Canberra becomes the capital of Australia.

Answer 60

1927

Question 61

Canada becomes a member of the Commonwealth.

Answer 61

1931

Question 62

Creation of the National Party in South Africa, for the political domination of Afrikaners, who were in favour of separating the black and white communities.

Answer 62

1934

Question 63

India gains independence. It is partitioned between India (mostly Hindus) and Pakistan (mostly muslims); New Zealand becomes independent within the Commonwealth.

Answer 63

1947

Question 64

Ghandi is assassinated. Nehru becomes Prime Minister of India. The National Party is elected in South Africa.

Answer 64

1948

Question 65

The Gold Rush brings waves of immigrants to Australia.

Answer 65

1951

Question 66

The Union of South Africa becomes a republic and leaves the Commonwealth. An apartheid policy is introduced. The white race is separed from the other races. Opposition parties, like the A.N.C. (African National Congress), are banned and their leaders imprisoned. Nigeria gains its independence and remains in the Commonwealth.

Answer 66

1960

Question 67

Riots against apartheid in the black township of Soweto, South Africa.

Answer 67

1961

Question 68

The Aboriginal Australians are given full citizenship. Since WWII, there has been much immigration to Australia, especially from Southeast Asia. The Aboriginal people still live in great poverty.

Answer 68

1967

Question 69

Eastern Pakistan wins its independence from Western Pakistan and becomes Bangladesh.

Answer 69

1971

Question 70

Constitution Act: Canada remains within the Commonwealth but ceases to be a colony.

Answer 70

1982

Question 71

De Klerk becomes president of South Africa. Mandela (imprisoned for his role in the A.N.C.) is released from prison and apartheid laws are abolished.

Answer 71

1989

Question 72

Mandela and De Klerk are awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Answer 72

1993

Question 73

Mandela becomes the first black President in the history of South Africa.

Answer 73

1994

Question 74

South Africa starts a policy of Affirmative Action to help black people. Although many problems persist, South Africa is now a prosperous country with a steadily growing economy.

Answer 74

1998

Question 75

Thabo Mbeki becomes President of South Africa. Programs are established to help with the huge remaining disparities btw. blacks and whites. However, huge differences still remain, and the country is also plagued by the A.I.D.S. epidemic, poverty, violence and unemployment.

Answer 75

1999

Question 76

In a referendum, Australia decides to remain a constitutional monarchy.

Answer 76

2001