Quebec is the largest province in Canada. It stretches from the St. Lawrence River in the south to Hudson Strait in the north. Much of northern Quebec is a forested wilderness. Most people live in the south, in such cities as Montreal and Quebec City, the capital. Quebec has more people than any other province except neighboring Ontario. The province is the Center of French culture in Canada.
Jacques Cartier claimed the Quebec region for France in 1534. Quebec city was founded in 1608 by Samuel de Cttamplain. This was the start of the colony of New France. In 1763, however, after France was defeated by Britain, in the French and Indian War, it was forced to give up its North American colonies Quebec joined the Canadian Confederation in 1867. During the 1900s, some French Canadians have sought to separate their province from the rest of Canada. But in 1980, the people of Quebec voted against a plan to make their province politically independent.
Quebec's factories make automobiles, aircraft, machinery, chemical, petroleum products, food products, and many other kinds of goods. Its vast northern region is a treasure trove of minerals. Tourism and lumbering are other important industries.
