On July 1, 1867, the British North America Act created the Dominion of Canada. The Fathers of Confederation from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Province of Canada built federal and provincial levels of government, and split the Province of Canada into Ontario and Quebec. The first four provinces were Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
1864 – 1867Confederation, 1867
Between 1864 and 1867, with British support, representatives of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Province of Canada worked together to create a new country; they are known as the Fathers of Confederation. They built two levels of government — federal and provincial — and split the old Province of Canada into Ontario and Quebec, each province electing its own legislature with control over areas such as education and health.
The British Parliament passed the British North America Act in 1867, and July 1, 1867 saw the official birth of the Dominion of Canada. July 1 was celebrated as Dominion Day until 1982; today it is Canada Day.
Remember this
- The first four provinces: Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.
- The term Dominion of Canada was suggested by Sir Leonard Tilley of New Brunswick in 1864, inspired by Psalm 72 — "dominion from sea to sea."
- White and red, the colours of today's flag, were assigned as Canada's national colours by King George V in 1921.
1867 – 1885Building a Nation: The West
Canada's first Prime Minister, in 1867, was Sir John Alexander Macdonald, a Father of Confederation. He was born in Scotland on January 11, 1815, came to Upper Canada as a child, and became a lawyer in Kingston, Ontario. Parliament has recognized January 11 as Sir John A. Macdonald Day, and his portrait appears on the $10 bill. Sir George-Etienne Cartier, a Montreal railway lawyer, was the key architect of Confederation from Quebec, leading Quebec in and helping negotiate the entry of the Northwest Territories, Manitoba, and British Columbia.
When Canada took over the vast northwest from the Hudson's Bay Company in 1869, the 12,000 Metis of the Red River were not consulted. An armed uprising led by Louis Riel seized Fort Garry, the territorial capital. Ottawa sent soldiers to retake it in 1870; Riel fled to the United States and Canada created Manitoba, a new province. Elected to Parliament, Riel never took his seat. A second rebellion in 1885 in present-day Saskatchewan led to his trial and execution for high treason — a decision strongly opposed in Quebec. Many see him as a hero, defender of Metis rights, and father of Manitoba.
After the first uprising, Macdonald founded in 1873 the North West Mounted Police (NWMP), to pacify the West and help in negotiations with the Indians. Fort Calgary, Fort MacLeod and other centres were founded by the NWMP, with headquarters at Regina. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP, or "the Mounties") are today Canada's national police force and among its best-known symbols. Major General Sir Sam Steele rose from the ranks of the Mounties, while Gabriel Dumont was the Metis' greatest military leader.
British Columbia joined Canada in 1871 after Ottawa promised a railway to the West Coast. On November 7, 1885, the last spike was driven by Donald Smith (Lord Strathcona), who directed the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and was born in Scotland. Financed by British and American investors and built by European and Chinese labour, the CPR's "ribbons of steel" fulfilled a national dream. Afterward the Chinese faced discrimination, including the race-based Head Tax; the Government of Canada apologized in 2006.
1867 – 1999Must-Know Dates: Provinces Join
Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick.
Manitoba, Northwest Territories.
British Columbia.
Prince Edward Island.
Transfer of the Arctic Islands (to N.W.T.).
Yukon Territory.
Alberta, Saskatchewan.
Newfoundland and Labrador.
Nunavut.
In the 1920s, some believed the British West Indies should become part of Canada, which did not occur.
Test questions on this topic
What are the representatives who worked from 1864 to 1867 to establish a new country known as?
Why: Between 1864 and 1867 delegates from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Province of Canada set about building a new country, with Britain's blessing. They are remembered as the Fathers of Confederation, and the system they designed had two tiers of government, federal and provincial.
Which four provinces formed the new country called the Dominion of Canada at Confederation?
Why: The old Province of Canada was divided into Ontario and Quebec; with New Brunswick and Nova Scotia they made up the new Dominion of Canada. Every province would choose its own legislature and take charge of matters such as education and health.
Which act, passed by the British Parliament in 1867, gave birth to the Dominion of Canada?
Why: Westminster passed the British North America Act in 1867, and the Dominion of Canada came formally into being on July 1 of that year. The date was kept as "Dominion Day" until 1982, marking Canada's becoming a self-governing Dominion; the official name now is Canada Day.
On what date was the Dominion of Canada officially born?
Why: The Dominion of Canada came formally into being on July 1, 1867. The date was kept as "Dominion Day" until 1982, marking Canada's becoming a self-governing Dominion; today it is officially Canada Day.
Until 1982, July 1 was celebrated as 'Confederation Day' before becoming officially known as Canada Day.
Why: Up to 1982 the July 1 holiday was "Dominion Day," marking the day Canada became a self-governing Dominion. Its official name now is Canada Day.
Who suggested the term 'Dominion of Canada' in 1864, inspired by Psalm 72 in the Bible?
Why: Sir Leonard Tilley — an elected official from New Brunswick and a Father of Confederation — proposed the name Dominion of Canada in 1864, drawing on Psalm 72, which speaks of "dominion from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth."
Who assigned Canada's national colours, white and red, in 1921?
Why: A Dominion of Canada $1 bill of 1923 bearing King George V, who in 1921 assigned Canada its national colours, white and red — the colours of the flag today.
Which provinces joined the Dominion in 1905?
Why: 1905 – Alberta, Saskatchewan
In what year did Newfoundland and Labrador join the Dominion?
Why: 1949 – Newfoundland and Labrador
In what year was Nunavut added to the Dominion?
Why: 1999 – Nunavut
Which province joined Canada in 1871?
Why: 1871 – British Columbia
Who became Canada's first Prime Minister in 1867?
Why: Canada's first Prime Minister was Sir John Alexander Macdonald, one of the Fathers of Confederation, who took office in 1867. Scotland was his birthplace, on January 11, 1815; his family brought him to Upper Canada in childhood, and he practised law at Kingston, Ontario. He was a gifted politician with a vivid personality.
On which bill does the portrait of Sir John A. Macdonald appear?
Why: January 11 is recognized by Parliament as Sir John A. Macdonald Day, and his portrait appears on the $10 bill.
Sir George-Etienne Cartier was the key architect of Confederation from Ontario.
Why: Confederation's chief architect in Quebec was Sir George-Étienne Cartier — a Montrealer, a railway lawyer, a patriotic Canadien and a close ally of Macdonald. He carried Quebec into Confederation and helped bring in the Northwest Territories, Manitoba and British Columbia.
When Canada took over the northwest region from the Hudson's Bay Company in 1869, who led an armed uprising and seized Fort Garry?
Why: Canada acquired the vast northwest from the Hudson's Bay Company in 1869 without consulting the 12,000 Métis of the Red River. Louis Riel answered with an armed rising and took Fort Garry, the territorial capital.
What new province did Canada establish after sending soldiers to retake Fort Garry in 1870?
Why: Troops sent from Ottawa recovered Fort Garry in 1870. Riel escaped to the United States, and Manitoba was created as a new province. He won election to Parliament but never sat.
What happened to Louis Riel after the second rebellion in 1885 in present-day Saskatchewan?
Why: Westward settlement threatened Métis and Indian rights again, and a second rising in 1885, in what is now Saskatchewan, ended with Riel tried and executed for high treason — a decision Quebec bitterly opposed. Many regard him as a hero, a defender of Métis rights and the founder of Manitoba.
In what year did Prime Minister Macdonald establish the North West Mounted Police (NWMP) to pacify the West?
Why: Following the first Métis rising, Prime Minister Macdonald created the North West Mounted Police in 1873 to bring order to the West and to help in negotiations with the Indians. The force established Fort Calgary, Fort MacLeod and other posts that are cities and towns today, with Regina as its headquarters.
How are the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) best described?
Why: The Royal Canadian Mounted Police — the RCMP, or "the Mounties" — serve as the national police force and rank among the country's best-known symbols. The ranks produced some of Canada's most vivid heroes, Major General Sir Sam Steele among them.
Who was the Metis' greatest military leader?
Why: Sir Sam Steele: a hero of the frontier, a Mounted Policeman and a soldier of the Queen. On the Métis side, Gabriel Dumont was the finest military leader they had.
On what date was the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway driven by Donald Smith (Lord Strathcona)?
Why: November 7, 1885 saw the last spike driven, a powerful emblem of unity. The man who swung the hammer was Donald Smith — Lord Strathcona — born in Scotland and a director of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
The Canadian Pacific Railway was built entirely by European labour, and Chinese workers played no part in its construction.
Why: British and American money paid for the line and European and Chinese labourers built it. The Chinese then met discrimination, the Head Tax among it — an entry fee levied by race. Ottawa apologized for that policy in 2006.
In what year did the Government of Canada apologize for the discriminatory Head Tax policy imposed on the Chinese?
Why: Chinese labourers afterwards faced discrimination, including the Head Tax, an entry fee charged on racial grounds. Ottawa apologized for the policy in 2006.
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