Social Studies 7: Confederation

Hear the story of Patrick James Whalen, who was accused of the assassination of Thomas D’Arcy McGee. Start at 10:30 into the podcast.

A summary article that describes the broad events of Confederation and lists the key male players.

This article addresses the men traditionally regarded as the Fathers of Confederation as well as other individuals that deserve consideration for their contributions.

Volumes have been dedicated to the Fathers of Confederation, but what about their wives and daughters, valuable record-keepers and political players in their own right? Learn about them in this article

A brief article with a list of all the Fathers of Confederation at the end.

Cartier, as an ally of Sir John A. Macdonald, was a key part to the Confederation talks.

Sir John A. Macdonald was a dominant force behind the British North America Act and the union of provinces which became Canada.

This 90 minute film explores the formation of Canada from a settler point of view.

As one of the "Fathers of Confederation", many consider him to be a hero. However, his policies towards the First Nations and the treatment of Chinese railroad workers have caused many to conclude that he is a villain. Hero or Villain? It's up to you to decide

Enya explains everything you need to know about what led to the signing of the BNA Act, what a dominion is and what Canada gained from having this status.

Learn about the British North America Act, a law passed in 1867 that established the Dominion of Canada as a self-governing entity within the British Empire.

Confederation? Constitution? How does it all work together? Trace the story of how Canada and its Parliament began.

A summary of the events of the London Conference that finally passed the British North America bill into law.

The Canadian delegation had to make strong arguments to get the British parliament to pass the British North America bill.

In the lead up to Confederation, Canada faces the threat of American expansionism. Determined that Canada will remain independent and free, a generation of risk-takers, gold miners, cowboys and railway-men will rise to the challenge.

Enjoy this fun rap about this events of Confederation in Canada.

Scroll down to see the timeline on this site.

Often referred to as the Father of Manitoba, Louis Riel, the leader of the Métis people of the Canadian Prairies, sought to preserve Métis rights and culture during a turbulent time in Canadian history.

A historical guide from Historica Canada to help students explore the raids which were an important factor in Confederation

Watch this video about the Fenian raids in Canada and how the Irish hoped the raids would free Ireland from British rule

A study guide full of point-form notes for students to use when they are learning about confederation

A detailed historical account of the events leading up to the formation of Canada in 1867. It follows key figures like John A. Macdonald, George-Étienne Cartier, and Charles Tupper

A useful written summary of the viewpoints of Confederation by French and English settlers in the colonies

This Indigenous-created free video game is downloadable to desktops. It is a point-and-click game that educates players about the impact of colonization on Indigenous communities in the 1890's.

B.C. Governor Anthony Musgrave, the second and last governor of the united colony, conducted a lengthy campaign for the colony to become part of Canada.

Although many businessmen favoured a union with the United States, British Columbia became the sixth province in Canada.

A brief article that describes the political hot potato that was the Manitoba Schools Question in the late 1800s.

Manitoba was called Rupert's Land and was sold to the country of Canada by the Hudson's Bay Company. No residents of the land were consulted about what they thought of the sale even though it changed their citizenship.

This video describes the building of Canada's National Railway which was at the heart of Canada's growth as a nation.

This lesson examines the various viewpoints and perspectives of the participants in the Confederation debates, including the voices of women, Indigenous peoples and other groups left out of the process.

A one page handout that teachers can give to students that summarizes the act into 5 main points.