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Canada's History › Early History
What is the significance of Jacques Cartier to Canada?
- He made three voyages claiming land for France and heard the Iroquoian word 'kanata' from which Canada's name derives
- He founded the city of Quebec in 1608
- He was the first European to reach the Pacific coast of Canada
- He built the first European settlement in Canada
Why this is the correct answer
Jacques Cartier made three voyages to what is now Canada between 1534 and 1542, claiming the land for France and exploring the St. Lawrence River. On his first voyage he heard local Iroquoian people use the word 'kanata', meaning 'village', which Europeans applied to the wider territory, eventually giving Canada its name. Cartier's voyages established France's claim to North America.