Minds On
Building a nation
In this learning activity, you will learn about how the country of Canada as we know it today was founded.
Imagine you and a group of your friends have been given an opportunity to start a brand-new country. Before you can build cities or roads, you need a foundation. Consider the following prompts to determine important characteristics of your country.
Record your thoughts in your notebook, or in a method of your choice.
Prompts to consider
- Who is permitted to participate in the decision-making process? Are there criteria for being included in these meetings?
- How will disagreements and conflicts be resolved by different regions or groups?
- What are the primary objectives for your government?
Pause and Reflect
Pause and reflect
Do you think other people answered the same way you did?
If possible, compare your replies to the previous questions with a peer. What things do you have in common? What is different?
With or without a partner, reflect on and record your ideas about why two people might answer the previous questions differently.
Image analysis
Examine the following painting. This is a reproduction of Robert Harris's painting "The Fathers of Confederation" by Canadian artist Rex Woods, 1968. These men represented the British North American colonies at one or more of the three conferences that eventually led to the Confederation and the Dominion of Canada.
Before you begin with this learning activity, answer the following questions using a method of your choice.
- Based on the outfits, setting and items in the room, what is your impression of the people in this room?
- Examine the people in the painting. What do you notice about them? Consider how they are positioned, their facial expressions, where their attention is and the central point of the painting.
Action
Canadian Confederation
Let’s learn about Confederation and the reasons the provinces of Canada decided to come together as one country.
Steps to Confederation
A map titled "The Dominion of Canada, July 1, 1867," showing the four original provinces: Ontario in the south-central region, Quebec to the northeast, New Brunswick to the east, and Nova Scotia further east along the Atlantic coast. The highlighted regions form a connected band stretching from central Canada to the Maritime provinces.
In 1867, the Dominion of Canada was created. Known as Confederation, at that time the Dominion of Canada consisted of four provinces: Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.
Let’s learn about Canada’s first steps toward independence from Britain. As you explore, think about the reasons behind this change.
Press Confederation to reveal the description of the term.
Beginning in 1864, political leaders from British North American colonies met at conferences in Charlottetown, Quebec City, and London to discuss the creation of a new country through Confederation. This process led to the British North America Act, which came into effect on July 1, 1867, and established Canada as a self-governing dominion. Over the following decades, additional provinces and territories joined, expanding Canada across the continent and shaping the country we know today.
Press Self-Governing Dominion to reveal the description of the term.
Learning check
Complete the following multiple choice question relating to Confederation.
Reasons for Confederation
During the early 1860s, politicians in Canada recognized six reasons for confederation.
Press the following six tabs to explore the six reasons for Confederation.
What was the most important reason for Confederation?
After exploring the previous six reasons, which reason do you think is the most important reason for Confederation?
Rank the reasons in the following fillable and printable Reasons for Confederation Chart. Use the number 1 for the most important reason and the number 6 for the least. Be prepared to defend your answer in the Consolidation portion of this learning activity. You may also complete this using a method of your choice.
| Reason |
Ranking 1 – most important 6 – least important |
Reason for ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Political deadlock | ||
| Threat of American expansion | ||
| Railway | ||
| Self-sufficiency from Great Britain | ||
| Cancellation of the Reciprocity Treaty | ||
| Expansion into the West |
Complete the Reasons for Confederation Chart in your notebook, in the following fillable and printable document, or in a method of your choice.
Press the Activity button to access the Reasons for Confederation Chart.
Contributors to Confederation
Thirty-six men are usually regarded as the Fathers of Confederation in Canada.
Some key individuals that contributed to the Confederation of Canada are:
A Portrait of George Brown
George Brown played an instrumental role in the Confederation in Canada. He advocated for a system of responsible government in Canada. This means a government that is responsible to the people. This form of government was a key demand in the British North American colonies in the early 19th century. He would also influence politics through his newspaper, The Globe, which today is The Globe and Mail.
A Portrait of George-Étienne Cartier
Sir George-Étienne Cartier and his supporters of Canada East allied with Macdonald’s party to create the political deadlock in the Province of Canada. At the Charlottetown Conference, he promised the building of a transcontinental railway to gain Maritime support and supported a strong military to resist any invasion from the United States.
A Portrait of John A. Macdonald
Sir John A. Macdonald was the first Prime Minister of Canada and was the main political mind that helped to create the British North America Act. As the first Prime Minister, he helped to negotiate the union of provinces, which became Canada. He oversaw the expansion of the Dominion of Canada from sea to sea.
Learning check
Considering the information you have learned about the Confederation, complete the following fill-in-the-blank statements.
For each statement, select the correct person from the drop-down menu.
Women and Confederation
The Fathers of Confederation were not the only ones who shaped the creation of Canada. At the time, many men believed that women had no role to play in politics or the democratic process. However, women did accompany their husbands and fathers and would play a significant role in the conferences.
Referred to as the Mothers of Confederation, these women were the wives, daughters and sisters of the politicians involved in the Confederation of Canada. Although they could not vote or hold political office, their work helps historians better understand what happened during Confederation.
Researching a Mother of Confederation
You will research the following Mothers of Confederation:
- Mercy Anne Coles
- Anne Brown
- Luce Cuvillier
- Lady Agnes Macdonald
For each woman, explain her historical significance by explaining who she was, how she was connected to Confederation, and how she contributed to the events or historical record.
Record your answers in 2 to 3 clear sentences for each person.
Complete the fillable and printable Researching Mothers of Confederation chart in your notebook or using the following document. You can also use a method of your choice. Begin your research using the Canadian encyclopedia websites or Canadian museum websites.
Press the Activity button to access the Researching Mothers of Confederation
Activity(Opens in a new tab)When you are ready press the Answers button to review your research.
| Mother of Confederation | Historical significance and role in Confederation |
|---|---|
|
Mercy Anne Coles |
Daughter of PEI Father of Confederation George Coles, Mercy Anne kept a detailed journal during the 1864 Charlottetown and Quebec conferences. She documented the dinners and social events that serve as important historical records. |
|
Anne Brown |
Wife of George Brown, she maintained regular correspondences with George during the Confederation negotiations. |
|
Luce Cuvillier |
A prominent Montreal businesswoman, her social events created a setting for French and English-speaking delegates to interact. |
|
Lady Agnes Macdonald |
The wife of Sir John A. Macdonald, she managed Macdonald’s correspondences, wrote about the changing country, political figures and kept records which are valuable sources today. |
Missing voices in Confederation
Confederation was largely shaped by a small number of wealthy, white men of British heritage and people living in Canada at this time had little or no say in the creation of the country. Understanding who was excluded from the process of Confederation helps explain why struggles for rights and representation continued after Confederation and still matter to this day.
First Nations, Métis and Inuit leaders were completely excluded from the Charlottetown, Quebec and London conferences. Despite being excluded, the British North America Act gave the federal government constitutional authority over them.
Women were also excluded from the Confederation process. In early Canada, political participation was strictly tied to male property ownership. Women could not vote and were not allowed to hold political office. The fight for women’s right to vote would continue for several more decades.
Furthermore, racialized minorities, including Black Canadians and Asian immigrants, as well as working-class men without property were denied the vote. Without voting rights, they had little power to influence decisions about the nation’s future.
Learning check!
Now that you have learned about Confederation, the Mothers of Confederation, and the perspectives of Indigenous Peoples, test your understanding by answering the following true and false questions.
Select the correct answer, then press the Check Answer button to see how you did.
Consolidation
What were the most important reasons for Confederation?
Use the personal rankings you assigned to the reasons for Confederation from the Action section. You will use your top two reasons for this activity to help answer the following questions. You may answer them using a method of your choice.
- How would this reason for Confederation impact the new country?
- What change did politicians hope this reason may make for the new country?
Contributors of Confederation
Examine the picture of the Fathers of Confederation again from the Minds On section and answer the following two questions:
- What other groups or individuals are missing from the discussion on the Confederation of Canada?
- If you had to recreate the painting of Confederation, what changes would you make? Consider, who else would you include? Would you make any changes to the setting, background or symbols used? Why?
Source: Confederation, 1867. The Canadian Encyclopedia, 21 March 2017, Historica Canada. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/confederation-1867
Source: “Professional Exchange.” Learning Centre, Virtual Museum of Canada, www.virtualmuseum.ca/edu/
Source: Waite, P.B. et al. «Fathers of Confederation». The Canadian Encyclopedia, 18 December 2019, Historica Canada. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/fathers-of-confederation
Reflection
As you read the following descriptions, select the one that best describes your current understanding of the learning in this activity. Press the corresponding button once you have made your choice.
I feel...
Now, expand on your ideas by recording your thoughts using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.
When you review your notes on this learning activity later, reflect on whether you would select a different description based on your further review of the material in this learning activity.