Building the New Nation Student Activities

Draw a diagram of the structure of the Canadian government as it as decided by the Fathers of Confederation.

Draw a political cartoon from the perspective of a French Canadian nationalist that expresses concern and suspicion of the future on the eve of Confederation.

Draw two maps of Canada. One before the Rupert's Land Act and one after the Rupert's Land Act.

Working in teams of two, design and draw pro and anti-Confederation posters for Newfoundland and Labrador in the years immediately after 1867.

Find the Rupert's Land Act. Download it. Translate the nineteenth century legal prose into understandable contemporary prose. What are the major terms of the agreement?

List some of the reasons why Macdonald's notion of a "federal union" won out over Cartier's "legislative union" in 1867.

Conduct a class debate on the following resolution: Resolved that the United States influenced the Fathers of Confederation more in the creation of the new government than did Britain.

Draw a political cartoon that might have appeared beside one of the "Botheration Letters.

Write a contemporary newspaper article dated July 1, 1867.

List the factors that have produced a flip-flop in the distribution of power. (i.e. Canada started with a strong central-weak provincial system and ahs evolved to a weaker central-stronger provincial structure today.) Which single factor do you think has been most important in that evolution? Compare what has occurred in the distribution of political power in Canada to what has occurred in the United States.

Many compromises were involved in the achievement of the final governmental form. What exactly is a compromise? Identify the political and constitutional compromises in creating the Canadian government.

What was the role of the Senate as envisioned by the Fathers of Confederation? To what extent do you think it has fulfilled that role?

After researching the respective roles, conduct a dialogue between Joseph Howe and John A. Macdonald about Nova Scotia's continued membership within Confederation.

Conduct a debate, either as a class or in triads, on the following resolution: Resolved that Joseph rightly deserves the title 'the father of Nova Scotia.'

Do you think the Fathers of Confederation were more concerned in solving immediate political and constitutional problems or in creating a lasting and durable political and constitutional structure? Suggest reasons for your position.

List and identify the reasons for Newfoundland and Labrador's rejection of Confederation. Of the factors listed, which do you think played the greatest role? Why?

What is federalism? Why was it virtually a necessity that Canada adopt such a system?

Which was more important to the future development of Canada, the creation of the North West Mounted Police or the transcontinental railway? Be sure to support your position with historical evidence.

Of the three provinces that joined Confederation immediately after 1867, which one received the best deal? Why? Which received the worst deal? Why?

Research the federal power of disallowance. What exactly is it? When and under what circumstances has it been used? Do you think that it is likely that it might be used in the foreseeable future? Why or why not?

Some have alleged that "Peace, Order, and Good Government" has been the ruling Canadian philosophy. What kind of society results from such a philosophy? Why? How is different from the American notion of "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness?"

Some of argued that Confederation was little more than "a bundle of compromises." Write a thematic essay either supporting or opposing that argument.

Some of argued that the Fathers of Confederation, in having the two great models of democracy, British and American, before them, were successful in achieving "the best of both worlds." In chart form, list the features that were both adopted and rejected from those two political systems. Then, write a position paper supporting or rejecting the thesis of "best of both worlds."

Why did Prince Edward Island initially oppose Confederation and then accept it? What caused the change of mind?

Write a contemporary newspaper arguing which side got the better of the deal in the Rupert's Land Act.

Write an essay or position paper on the following thesis: Nova Scotia was dragged into Confederation and has suffered ever since."