Confederation of 1867 - The “Birth” of the Canadian Nation

Abstract

Catherine Broom in her article “History from a Philosophic Perspective” states, “ rather than paint[ing] a rosy picture of Confederation as “birthing” Canada, students should learn of the political conflicts and turmoil involved, of the opposition to it by certain groups, of the lethargy to it by others, of its exclusionary nation, of the odd personality and heavy drinking of Macdonald.” This is the inspiration behind my eight lessons assignment. The nation building simple narrative of Confederation will be complicated. Students will question the simplistic narrative of Confederation and attempt to see how this was a divisive moment in Canadian history.