History of Halifax, Nova Scotia Quiz

Answer: Great Harbor

Indeed, Halifax's harbor was essential to its growth once the Europeans settled in the area in the 18th century. The city was named Halifax in 1749 after George Montagu-Dunk, the 2nd Earl of Halifax who helped found the modern-day city.

Answer: Edward Cornwallis

The British had previously negotiated peace treaties with the native indigenous population in 1725 but Cornwallis' establishment of military bases and other institutions upset the Mi'kmaq and violated the treaties. The Mi'kmaq had the support of the French, who held territory nearby, but they were both soundly defeated by the British.

As a result, the aiding Acadians were banished from the area and Britain had total control of Nova Scotia.

Answer: June 25

Governor Jonathan Belcher hosted several Mi'kmaq in a burying the hatchet ceremony in a symbolic end to the fighting that had characterized the city for nearly a century. Today, Nova Scotians celebrate Treaty Day on October 1 as recognition of this event as well as the treaties the Mi'kmaq signed with the British during the period of fighting. October 1 was chosen because that is the day in 1752 the British gave the Mi'kmaq gifts as a goodwill gesture.

Answer: American loyalists to Britain fled to Halifax

When the war was over and the American colonists earned victory and independence, those living in the colonies who supported Britain fled to Halifax to escape persecution. Also, new American laws forbade anyone from holding federal office without having lived in America for a certain period of time (it differed by office.) Some loyalists, who had fled to Nova Scotia before the end of the war, would find themselves powerless even if they did have political support in their area; so most of them stayed in Halifax.

Answer: War of 1812

The British Navy was relatively small at the time, especially in North America. In order to populate its Navy, the British began kidnapping American sailors and forced them to join the British Navy, a practice known as impressment. Impressment was one of the main causes of the War of 1812 between Britain and the United States. Halifax was key to the naval portion of the war and American ships captured by the British were taken as trophies to Nova Scotia, most notably the Chesapeake.

Answer: Bermuda

While Halifax served its purpose during the War of 1812 as a naval base, the British decided that it was in their best interest to move their naval headquarters further away from the United States. Bermuda was chosen as a replacement because British ships in the Caribbean had also successfully captured enemy ships and the seas there were finally becoming free of pirates.

Answer: Crimean War

Augustus Welsford and William Parker were killed during the Siege of Sevastopol in the Crimean War. Both men were from Halifax. The Welsford-Parker Monument was build by George Lang and is the only monument in North America to casualties of the Crimean War.

Answer: True

The rest of the future Canadian provinces believed that either the American Union or the Confederate States could invade Canada and seize land. They believed that uniting into one nation would make Canada stronger defensively. Nova Scotia, specifically Halifax, was far wealthier than the other provinces, which included Ontario and Quebec, and believed it did not have much to gain by joining and Canadian confederacy, especially since such a move would probably anger New York businessmen who had provided a substantial amount of Halifax's wealth.

After an independent Canada developed, Nova Scotia did manage to maintain its wealth and connections with American cities.

Answer: Norway

Both France and Norway had ships in Halifax Harbor looking out for German U-boats. The Imo was passing through an area called the Narrows and was constantly being steered off course to avoid other ships that were on the wrong side when it collided with the Mont Blanc.

The resulting explosion was the largest man-made explosion at the time. The blast was so powerful that it caused a tsunami that swept away a Mi'kmaq community and a black community called Africville.

Answer: Sailors

Before World War II, Halifax was home to only few tens of thousands of people. But its population doubled during the war almost entirely because of Navy personnel. The sudden increase in population caused massive inflation and civilian people of Halifax blamed the Navy. Once the war in Europe was over tens of thousands of sailors took to the streets to celebrate but were met indifferently by the townspeople. Sailors began looting businesses and illegal bars well into the night and into the next morning.

In the aftermath, three people died and over $5 million in damage was caused to local businesses.