Key Terms & Concepts
It’s an official set of rules about how a country is governed, necessary to ensure rights are recognized.
What is a constitution?
He had a vision of a country stretching "from sea to sea" and became the first Prime Minister of Canada.
Who is John A. Macdonald?
This province joined in 1873 after Canada agreed to pay its railway debts and buy out land from British landlords.
What is PEI?
This 1867 Act of the British Parliament officially created the Dominion of Canada.
What is the British North America Act?
True or False: In 1867, Canada West was primarily French-speaking and Canada East was primarily English-speaking.
False (Canada West was English-speaking/Ontario; Canada East was French-speaking/Quebec).
This economic system of regulated trade between Britain and its colonies ended in the 1840s, leading colonies to seek a union.
What is mercantilism?
This leader was a strong advocate for "Representation by Population" and worried about losing Rupert's Land to the Americans.
Who is George Brown?
This colony joined late (1949) after the Great Depression and WWII made it impossible to afford basic services like hospitals.
What is Newfoundland?
This democratic concept means that the number of seats a province has in the federal government is decided by its population.
What is Representation by Population (Rep by Pop)?
This September 1864 meeting was originally intended only to discuss a union of the Maritime provinces.
What is The Charlottetown Conference?
This term describes a situation where the government cannot make decisions because opposing parties have an equal number of seats.
What is political deadlock?
This leader demanded provincial control over language and religion to safeguard Canadien heritage.
Who was George-Étienne Cartier?
British Columbia joined in 1871 after Canada promised to build this within ten years to connect them to the east.
What is a transcontinental railway?
According to the BNA Act, the federal government's role was to maintain these three things: "______, ______, and good ________."
What is peace, order, and good government?
To resolve conflicts between regions, the BNA Act divided power between these two levels of government.
What is Federal (Canada) and Provincial.
This was an added charge or tax placed on goods imported from British North America.
What is a tariff?
He fought as a rebel during the rebellions of 1837 and 1838 but later believed cooperation was the only way to protect French culture. (hint, he was not best bros with Macdonald... hes the other guy)
Who was Étienne-Paschal Taché?
These two provinces were initially territories but gained provincial status so they could manage their own natural resources.
What are Alberta and Saskatchewan?
This group was notably NOT consulted or included in the negotiations of the BNA Act.
Who are the First Nations?
To get the Maritime provinces to agree to the union, the federal government promised to take on their ___________.
What are debts?
Many colonies joined Confederation because they feared this—the act of being taken over by the United States.
What is annexation?
He led the Métis in negotiations to secure land, language, and religious protections when Manitoba joined Canada.
Who is Louis Riel?
One reason the Maritimes feared Confederation was the potential loss of _______, along with increased taxation.
What is their independence (or autonomy/ individuality)?
Until 1960, First Nations people had to give up _________ if they wanted the right to vote.
What is their status and identity?
This 1858 event caused British Columbia to borrow heavily for roads, eventually leading them to join Canada for debt relief.
What is the gold rush?