Library and Archives Canada 1867 to present

EDSelect's Collection of Links on Confederation

Collections Canada: People By Name/By Province or Territory    (Français ici)
One of the most familiar historical images in Canada is the painting of the Fathers of Confederation. These gentlemen, the delegates to the Confederation Conferences [...] were probably the most prominent figures involved in Canada's creation. However, they were not the only important people. Many others, not all of them supporters of union, played a part in the formation of our country prior to 1867.....

Collections Canada: Confederation for kids:  People   (Français ici)
An alphabetical list of names of people who had an important role to play in the making of Canada.  Shorter list of key figures.

John A. Macdonald Portal
The John A. Macdonald Portal is an open portal dedicated to the life and career of Canada's first Prime Minister. It gives students a narrative of Macdonald's life, as well as a slate of supporting textual and image resources that can be used for projects and book reports.

British North America 1776 - 1867.  Canadian Economic Development course originally designed by K.J. Rea, Ph.D.  can still be found in its entirety on this web site.  A REALAUDIO version of the powerpoints used for the course is available here that traces the economic development of Canada up to confederation.

Brand New and Wonderful: The Rise of Technology.  A thematic tour from the McCord Museum of the economic and technological changes going on at the time of Confederation.

Victoria Bridge presentation at the McCord overviews the Railway age and its significance, its innovations, and a change in mentality.

Canadian Pacific Railway Timeline
Use of this site and the Canada Pacific Railway Photo Gallery could help form interpretations as to the effects of the Railway on the economic development of Canada pre and post Confederation.  (Thanks Mike S.)

Wikipedia entry on Economic History of Canada: Confederation
Scan above and below the entry on Confederation to survey the important developments such as Railways, Canals, National Policy and slumps and boom years after Confederation.

Past Perfect: The Politically Incorrect in Cartoons!
For secondary cycle two history classes, the McCord Museum offers new Web resources and lesson plans based on old editorial cartoons, in a collection entitled Past Perfect: The Politically Incorrect in Cartoons!  Of particular interest for tracing economic change, reflect on the beginnings of industrialization and globalization today using the learning approach: The Formation of the Canadian Federation: Industrialization and Economic Policies

Events related to "Industrial revolution, capitalism, and trade" to be used to create Timeline layer for LEARN LES on Confederation, specifically for Phase 4

• 1859 - Victoria Bridge opens.  See also the Mccord Victoria Bridge presentation.
• 1860 - Grand Trunk railway opens  
• 1867 - CIBC opens
• 1854 - Canadian-American Reciprocity Treaty
  Contributes to economic development, separation from Britain
• 1866 - Canadian-American Reciprocity Treaty
  End of treaty worries Canadians, partly because US angry that Britain helped south in Civil War.  Helps create a confederation scenario eventually leading to National Policy.
• 1869 - Hudson's Bay Company surrenders territorial rights to Rupert's Land to the Crown
• 1871 - Mail-order catalogues increase economic connections to other countries
• 1872  Intercolonial Railway
  Completely owned and controlled by the federal government, the Intercolonial was also one of Canada's first Crown corporations. Became part of CN eventually.
• 1879 - National Policy  Tarrifs to protect manufacturing base.
• 1881 Canadian Pacific Railway
• 1885 Last Spike finishes the Canadian Pacific Railway 
  See also Mike's Railway History page on The Conquest of Canada for picks, stories and a readable rendition of the whole adventure.

Past Perfect: The Politically Incorrect in Cartoons!
For secondary cycle two history classes, the McCord Museum offers new Web resources and lesson plans based on old editorial cartoons, in a collection entitled Past Perfect: The Politically Incorrect in Cartoons!  To look at urban development, using old illustrations and funny cartoons, consider the focus on: The Formation of Canadian Federation: Montreal, the Metropolis

Confederation: The Creation of Canada.  A thematic tour from the McCord Museum


Episode 8 "The Great Enterprise" of Canada A people's history.  Chapter one summary page highlights summarizes political realities in BNA., various Fathers of Confederation are then described in the following chapters, as well as the coalitions, the campaign agains and the opposition to confederation, and finally the London conference.  Episodes can be ordered on DVD.

Historical Maps of Canada 1867, from  timeline of maps from Canadian Geographic.  Describes boundary changes due to Confederation, with opportunity to compare previous and following dates on a convenient timeline.

CanadaInfo:  Territorial Evolution of Canada
10 maps including before and after Confederation.  Easily printed page.
Collections Canada Maps from 1667-1999.  (Français).  The above collection of maps was probably taken from this original collection.

Past Perfect: The Politically Incorrect in Cartoons!
For secondary cycle two history classes, the McCord Museum offers new Web resources and lesson plans based on old editorial cartoons, in a collection entitled Past Perfect: The Politically Incorrect in Cartoons!  To examine the stakes involved in the formation of the Canadian federation, with the help of the characters Miss Canada and Johnny Canuck: The Formation of the Canadian Federation: Territorial, Political and Social Challenges