There were a few voyages recorded to Newfoundland during the next 500 years. The Vikings have since deserted their settlements and there were not many records of new settlements. Near the end of the 15^th century, Europeans began to search for a Northwest route to Asia and their journeys repeatedly touched onto Newfoundland. João Vaz Corte Real of Portugal sailed to Newfoundland with two Scandinavians, Dietrich Pining and Hans Pothorst in 1472. There were no subsequent voyages from Portugal.

In 1497, John Cabot, an English explorer, sailed from England to Newfoundland. When he returned to England he reported that the codfish on the Newfoundland Grand Bank’s were so thick that he could scoop them up in baskets from the sides of the ship. That report created a run on the Newfoundland Grand bank’s from the fisherman of England, Spain, Portugal and France. At the same time, explorers were coming to the Newfoundland coasts.

Spain claimed most of the Americas including Newfoundland at this time. They were not heavily involved with control of Newfoundland and were tolerant of Non-Spanish ships on the Grand Banks. The island was formally claimed for England by Sir Humphrey Gilbert but the claim did not hold since the majority of the fishing vessels were from Spain. Shortly thereafter, English control was retained by Sir Bernard Drake who destroyed the Spanish fishing fleet in Newfoundland.

John Guy, a merchant, brought 39 settlers to Conception Bay in 1610. Within a decade there were settlements in Cambriol, Ferryland and Renews. These communities suffered extreme hardship as they competed with the fishermen and contended with poor weather, soil and leadership. The Western Charter was established in 1634 by King Charles 1 which gave seasonal authority over the outports to ship Admirals in order to ensure that England would prosper and control the fishing industry. Newfoundland was now an established fixture of England’s fishing industry. While the settlers fought the western fishers and tried to get established on Newfoundland, the oceans became filled with hostile ships. Finally, Oliver Cromwell who ruled England as lord protector from 1653 to 1668 ordered a naval force to protect the fisheries. The naval force was given control over the entire island for the fishing season. Meanwhile, France, realizing the strategic importance of Newfoundland as a gateway to Canada, settled troops in Placentia in 1662. From that time, the English settlers were subjected not only to French aggression, but also to Dutch raids when England went to war against the Netherlands over various colonies; the war was carried to North America. In 1665 and 1673 the Dutch plundered St. John's. After the second attack the English fortified the harbor, but they did little else to aid Newfoundland. To add to the Settler’s concerns, the Western Charter was revised in more favor of the English fishers to disallow settlement within 10 km of the sea. The English fishers regularly robbed and plundered the settlers.

The struggle for control of North America between the French and British was in part played out in Newfoundland. French forces from Placentia regularly raided outlying areas and fishing vessels. During King William’s War in 1696 between the French and British over the North American colonies, French troops overtook the Avalon Peninsula and burned the city of St. John’s. During the later Queen Anne’s War the re-fortified St. John’s fell again to the French in 1708. When the Queen Anne War ended in 1713 with the Peace of Utrecht, the mostly defeated French returned control of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Hudson Bay. France retained control of the coast between Cape Bonavista and Riche Point called the French Shore.

At the end of the war there were about 2,000 demoralized settlers left on the island of Newfoundland. There were no schools, no churches, and no law and order other than fragmented rule of the fishing admirals. Contrary to British policy the island had become a market for New England goods and a midway point for British sailors involved with the lucrative New England trade. Fleet commodore, Lord Vere Beauclerk sought controls in 1728. His recommendation was accepted and shortly thereafter Captain Henry Osborne became the first Naval Governor. Year round justices of the peace and constables monitored judicial controls

During the French and Indian War in 1759, Britain took over the French trading posts in Labrador as the fight for North America continued. Within 3 years and continuous losses, France attacked and captured St. John’s for three months. Being unable to maintain a base in North America, France rescinded control of Labrador to Newfoundland’s governor in 1763. France retained rights to the northwestern shore and French possession of Saint Pierre and Miquelon was established. A year later, Sir Hugh Palleser became the Naval governor of Newfoundland. Palliser maintained an anti settlement pro sailor position. Palliser aided James Cook, a famed British Explorer, in the first marine survey of Newfoundland and Labrador. Palliser allowed encroachments on the Northwestern shores held by the French and established strained relations with New England by banning their fishers from the Grand Banks. After the American Revolution, the French and Americans avenged Palliser through the Treaty of Paris in 1783. The French were granted the entire western coast of Newfoundland and the New England fishers attained unrestricted access to the Grand Banks.

Newfoundland got its first civil court system in 1791 and soon thereafter received its first Chief Justice, John Reeves. Settlement was finally the order of the day. Labrador was reunited with Newfoundland in 1809 after being claimed by Quebec in 1774. The Labrador region meant more fishing territory and access to an abundance of wildlife. It was quickly discovered that the seal and fur trades were extremely profitable. The Hudson’s Bay Company became established in the area and mass migration from Europe fuelled by the new riches expanded the fishery and seal hunting trade. The majority of immigrants were from Ireland.

Newfoundland was still regarded by Great Britain as a fishing base, which meant a lopsided governing process. Newfoundland was a colony but lacked the political clout to govern accordingly. In the early 1800’s Patrick Morris and Dr. William Carson led a movement towards self-government. In 1824 Great Britain authorized a civilian governor and an appointed legislative council. In 1832, parliament permitted an elected assembly to sit with council. Financial control became the most contentious issue between the two legislative bodies.

The demands toward Responsible Government were becoming more constant. Both Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island had been granted self-government. The political change was put to an election in 1854 when the Catholic-Liberal coalition led by John Kent and Philip Francis Little defeated the Protestant-Conservatives led by Hugh Doyles. Governor Charles H. Darling proclaimed the establishment of responsible government and little became Newfoundland’s first Prime Minister.

Talk of Confederation with the rest of Canada began in the early 1860s. In 1864 at the Quebec conference the other provinces discussed details of the Union. The Newfoundland opposition government formed a strong anti-confederation movement led by Charles Fox Bennett. Bennett formed the government in 1869 on an anti-confederation platform. Bennett convinced Newfoundlanders that Canadian union would not work because of the French Shore.

In 1888 interest grew in Labrador’s natural resources and again there were disputes about ownership between Quebec and Newfoundland. England was unable to resolve the dispute and Newfoundland retained full control of Labrador. Iron ore was discovered in the Grand Falls (Churchill Falls) region.

The economy of Newfoundland was starting to take shape as the 20^th century approached. The fishery was enjoying high world prices and copper at Tilt Cove and iron on Bell Island was being mined. Misfortune struck as a fire destroyed most of St. John’s in 1892. The cost to recover was extensive. A few years later bank failures and a downturn in the fish catch affected the whole colony. Again, confederation was proposed and in 1895 an agreement could not be reached. Shortly after, the economy recovered and the railway between St. John’s and Port aux Basques was completed in 1898.

In 1904, France allowed reunification of the Western Shore to the rest of the colony. New disputes arose with the United States over fishing rights. After a hearing at The Hague in 1910, Newfoundland’s fishing rights were upheld. Newfoundland now enjoyed an expanded fishery, increased agriculture, newsprint production and lumber. Deeper political roots were formed as the Fisherman’s Union Party and the People’s party was added to the existing arena of Conservatives and Liberals. World War 1 arrived and the heated political theatre cooled down and a coalition government was formed. Newfoundland’s political resources were focused on the war.

Newfoundland began to experience a renewed economic downturn in 1920 as the price of fish declined and large finances were required to meet military and public obligations. A new recovery began in 1928. The British Privy Council ended the Quebec Labrador dispute in 1927 with the borders of Labrador being expanded and the reaffirmation of Newfoundland’s control. Quebec has not accepted this decision.

The Great Depression had virtually wiped out demand for Newfoundland’s products in the 30s and the Newfoundland government sought aid from Great Britain. A new government was formed comprised of Newfoundlanders and British members. The new government reigned from 1934-1949 and aided in the development of all aspects of a modern society. The onset of World War 2 was a major factor in Newfoundland’s improved economy. Newfoundland’s location in the North Atlantic was strategically important for American and Canadian naval and air bases. The American Bases were built at St. John’s, Stephenville and Argentia. Canadian bases were established at Gander and Goose Bay.

The end of the war and an improved economy meant re-evaluating the form of government. The British government debated a continuation of the joint government system or a return to self-government. A convention was held where one of the delegates, Joseph Smallwood, proposed confederation with Canada. Mr. Smallwood convinced the British government to include confederation on the people’s ballot. The result of the ballot meant an end to the joint government system but failed to reach a majority on either self-government or confederation. A second referendum gave confederation 52% of the vote and Newfoundland, led by Joseph Smallwood as premier, became Canada’s tenth province on March 31, 1949.