Canada became an independent nation in 1867 when three provinces of British North America were united to form the new nation. One of these colonies split into two new provinces, three other provinces joined later, and three new provinces were carved from the large interior of the country that was ceded to Canada by the United Kingdom soon after it formed. Before being part of British North America, the provinces that made up the new nation of Canada were part of the colonies of Canada and Acadia in New France, which were gradually ceded to Great Britain and the United Kingdom after defeat in several wars. The French influence lived on, as the French language was common in the initial provinces of Canada, and remains one of the two official languages of the country.

The central expanse of Canada was originally settled by the Hudson's Bay Company of the Kingdom of England, which had a royal monopoly over trade in the region; Rupert's Land was named after the company's first director, Prince Rupert of the Rhine. The North West Company later moved into a large portion of the region, and competition and minor hostilities between the two companies forced their merger. The western colony of British Columbia was for a time shared with the United States as Oregon Country, until the border was fixed at the 49th parallel north. French influence on the western regions of Canada was far less than in the east.

Since it was formed, Canada's external borders have changed seven times, and it has grown from four provinces to ten provinces and three territories. It has only lost territory in the small border dispute with the Dominion of Newfoundland over Labrador, which joined Canada some time later.