| With it's population, highlights, economy and | | | | 1812. It has been partially burned in 1813, when |
| urbanization, Toronto can be safely considered | | | | Pike Zebulon attacked it with his troops. British |
| being one of those cities in the world which one | | | | soldiers were outnumbered by many and decided |
| has to visit. To find out more how things got | | | | to retreat, yet still stop the attack by setting fire |
| there, read the rest of this article and learn about | | | | to all magazines in the fort and making it explode. |
| the history of this magnificient metropolitan area. | | | | This happened just as the Americans entered the |
| Ancient times | | | | building, killing Zebulon and many of his man in |
| In case of Toronto, it's a lot harder to | | | | action. After the American armed forces left, it |
| characterize an ancient culture that lived in this | | | | was rebuilt much stronger and the attackers didn't |
| area. From what we know, permanent | | | | even had the chance to reach the shore the next |
| settlements didn't exist, various tribes including the | | | | time they tried. |
| Mohawks have had different uses for this | | | | The Great Irish Famine |
| territory and often set up summer camps. | | | | The mid 1800's saw a large number of Irish |
| Toronto as a name most likely comes from a | | | | immigrants, both Catholic and Protestant. The |
| Mohawk word tkaronto, which would mean "a | | | | latter group was more successful and soon |
| place where trees stand in water". | | | | started playing a major role by occupying major |
| Settlement | | | | positions in politics, education and business. |
| A French explorer, Etienne Brule, is the first | | | | The first trains and transportation |
| European person credited to stand on the shores | | | | 1853 was the year when the first trains pulled out |
| of Lake Ontario. Soon enough, the Toronto | | | | of Toronto on a long track that ran north to |
| passage has become a vital junction for fur | | | | Barrie on Lake Simcoe. In the end, Toronto |
| trading. Later, this fact has led to a major fight | | | | became the main railway hub for Western |
| between Britain and France as they tried to gain | | | | Canada, further enhancing the importance of the |
| control. | | | | city. By this time, Toronto had already distinct |
| John Graves Simcoe | | | | neighbourhoods, a drain system, piped water, gas |
| This person is known as the godfather of | | | | lightning on the streets and a rapidly expanding |
| Toronto, named York at first. In his view, the | | | | economy. |
| settlement served more as a guarding post at | | | | Industrialization |
| the American border. Soon, it has became the | | | | British industrial advances and a reciprocal free |
| capital of Upper Canada and the need for routes | | | | trade agreement with the United States has led |
| intended mainly for fast military communication | | | | to major developments in Canada, including |
| has led to the building of three major roads - | | | | Toronto. Coal-fired steam power was used to |
| Yonge Street, Kingston Road and Dundas. Yonge | | | | produce an extensive range of products, which |
| Street is still the longest street in the world, | | | | were shipped by train and on water, the latter |
| running 1896 kilometres to the Rainy River. | | | | changing the city's harbor into a grimy and |
| American raids on York | | | | sedulous industrial zone. |
| York has been attacked twice during the War of | | | | |