History of Montreal

A city with an interesting mix of French culture and English and American influences, Montreal’s history is short in comparison to other North American destinations. All the same, the history books have plenty to tell us regarding its development and the role of both the French and the English. 

Early days

The history books tells us that the Huron, Algonquin and Iroquois tribes settled in the area that we now know as the Island of Montreal, as far back as 8,000 years ago, and it wasn’t until the 16th century that a European presence was noted with the arrival of Jacques Cartier to the village of Hochelega in 1535. In 1605, the arrival of Samuel de Champlain in the same place marked the beginning of a period of development, with events such as the establishment of La Place Royale in 1611.

Change was slow to occur however, as members of the Iroquois tribe fought fiercely to defend their land and traditions against external influences. It wasn’t until 1639 that a French tax collector named Jérôme Le Royer established the Island of Montreal’s first permanent European settlement with the first Catholic church, established by French colonists in conjunction with missionaries Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve and Jeanne Mance.

Middle Ages to recent times

Ville Marie, as the town was known, prospered as a fur-producing centre, but it was subject to offensives from the discontented Iroquois; a peace treaty was however signed in 1701. The French retained control of the city until 1760, when it was surrendered to the British, who allowed the French colonists to continue living peacefully as subjects of the British Empire.

In 1832, Montreal was incorporated as a city, and thereafter its prosperity increased significantly. The subsequent opening of the Lachine Canal was advantageous to the growth of the city in that trade ships were able to avoid the troublesome waters of the Lachine Rapids.

The city’s elevated status as the capital of the United Province in the period from 1844 to 1849 saw the arrival of more English-speaking settlers, which gradually struck a balance with the number of French-speakers. By 1860, Montreal was the largest city in British North America and home to over 58,000 inhabitants.

Following the end of WWI, the city attracted large numbers of Americans, looking for alcohol in light of the USA’s prohibition movement. From this time, Montreal began to experience some difficult times, with high levels of unemployment, which were made worse by the Stock Market Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression.

WWII passed with limited effect on the city, which by the early 1950s, was home to over a million residents. The increase in population spurred the local government to make development plans, which included the creation of a new metro system, the expansion of the city’s harbour and the opening of the Saint Lawrence Seaway. The city developed at a steady rate in subsequent decades until becoming the modern metropolis that it is today.