Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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The Hudson’s Bay Company wasn’t just a fur-trading business - it ruled half of what is now Canada like a private country. From its royal charter by King Charles II, its rivalry with the North West Company, to its monopoly over Rupert’s Land, this corporate empire helped create the very foundation of modern Canada. In this video, we explore how a 17th-century company grew into a de facto state, governed millions of square kilometers, and later transferred its vast territories to form Canada’s Dominion in 1870.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Canada used to be a company? Kind of
02:41 The colonial context (French and British)
04:03 The British plan
04:51 Creation of the Hudson's Bay Company
06:36 Conflicts with the French
07:33 The competitor Northwest Company
09:07 Merging of the two companies
09:48 George Simpson: the emperor of the north
11:27 Peak territories of the company
12:18 From company to Canada
15:32 Native resistence
16:13 What happened to the HBC?
16:44 Would Canada exist without it?
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❤️ Become a member on Patreon & get your name in the credits + exclusive content! patreon.com/generalknowledge
The Hudson’s Bay Company wasn’t just a fur-trading business - it ruled half of what is now Canada like a private country. From its royal charter by King Charles II, its rivalry with the North West Company, to its monopoly over Rupert’s Land, this corporate empire helped create the very foundation of modern Canada. In this video, we explore how a 17th-century company grew into a de facto state, governed millions of square kilometers, and later transferred its vast territories to form Canada’s Dominion in 1870.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Canada used to be a company? Kind of
02:41 The colonial context (French and British)
04:03 The British plan
04:51 Creation of the Hudson's Bay Company
06:36 Conflicts with the French
07:33 The competitor Northwest Company
09:07 Merging of the two companies
09:48 George Simpson: the emperor of the north
11:27 Peak territories of the company
12:18 From company to Canada
15:32 Native resistence
16:13 What happened to the HBC?
16:44 Would Canada exist without it?
Stay up to date on more content from me:
🎶 Tiktok: tiktok.com/@general.knowledge.yt
🖼️ Instagram: instagram.com/genknowledge
▶ Join the Discord Server: discord.com/invite/f4neAVWZfF
▶ Business Contact: gilfamc@gmail.com
#GeneralKnowledge
