Quebec has a rich history that began with Indigenous peoples, such as the Iroquois and Algonquin, who inhabited the region for thousands of years. In 1534, Jacques Cartier claimed the land for France, leading to the establishment of the first permanent European settlement in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain in Quebec City. In 1763, after the Seven Years' War, France ceded Quebec to Britain, which significantly influenced its culture and governance. The Quebec Act of 1774 allowed French-speaking residents to maintain their language and religion, shaping the province's unique identity within Canada.