- Definition
British North America refers to the parts of North America that were controlled by Britain, like Canada is today. Over time, the specific areas included changed as Britain gained or lost land.
After the American Revolution, the thirteen colonies were no longer part of British North America, but the remaining northern colonies were.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Think of British North America like a sports league where some teams joined over time, while another big group of teams left to start their own separate league.
Ask your child: Why is it important to know the date when talking about British North America?
Common mix-up: Kids may think British North America is just another name for Canada. It was actually a changing collection of territories that included what would become Canada, but also once included the American colonies.
Examples
- After Britain won the Seven Years' War in 1763, the French territory of Quebec became part of British North America.
- The colonies of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were key parts of British North America leading up to Confederation.
British North America is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
