Key+Players+of+Confederation



=Sir John Alexander Macdonald =

In order to deal with the Province of Canada's [|economic] and political problems, a group of politicians led by Macdonald came up with the idea of joining with the [|Maritime colonies] to form a larger country. Macdonald was a driving force behind [|Confederation], and it was because of the important part that he hi peeps played that he was asked to be Canada's first prime minister. He remained prime minister for most of the rest of his life. He died on June 6, 1891, soon after winning his fourth election. my mommy loves yoiu what kind of bees make milk boobees



Charles Tupper

Tupper was born in Amherst, Nova Scotia, on July 2, 1821. He was the [|premier] of Nova Scotia who agreed to [|Confederation]. His first job was as a doctor. Even after he became a politician, he still kept his medical bag under his seat in the House of Commons. He was a member of the Conservative party in Nova Scotia, and became premier in 1864. Tupper was interested in joining Canada because he felt it would be good for Nova Scotia's [|economy]. He participated in the Confederation [|conferences] which led to Nova Scotia agreeing to join Confederation in 1867. Once Nova Scotia was part of Canada Tupper quit his job as premier, and joined the federal Conservative party. He held several important jobs in the Conservative government of [|Sir John A. Macdonald]. Tupper became prime minister in 1896. However he was only prime minister for ten weeks before losing the election that same year. Tupper retired from politics in 1900, and died on October 30, 1915.



Joseph Howe

Howe was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1804 and was the man who led the fight against [|Confederation] in Nova Scotia. He started as a newspaper owner, becoming interested in politics because he was always reporting on political stories. He wanted [|responsible government] for Nova Scotia, and because of his efforts Nova Scotia became the first to achieve responsible government in Canada in 1848.

When the [|premier], [|Charles Tupper] , pushed Confederation through, Howe criticized him for going ahead with it when the people didn't want it. In the next election the people showed their anger at Tupper by voting him out. Howe and his anti-Confederates were voted in. However, it was too late to undo Confederation. Howe eventually decided that he could best help his [|province] by getting into the [|federal government]. He believed that if he was in the federal government he could make sure Nova Scotia was treated well. He was appointed lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia in 1873, and died that same year.



=Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley =

Tilley was born at Gagetown, New Brunswick, on May 8, 1818. He became a pharmacist when he was 20 and ran a successful shop called "Tilley's Drug Store". Tilley became interested in politics and fought for [|responsible government]. He became [|premier] in 1861 and was responsible for bringing New Brunswick into [|Confederation]. Tilley wanted New Brunswick to join Canada, but after he returned from talks with Canadian leaders he learned the people of New Brunswick were against Confederation. He lost the next election because the public didn't want New Brunswick to join Canada. However, a year later the people had changed their minds about Confederation. In a new election Tilley won and became premier again. Tilley was finally able to bring New Brunswick into Confederation. When New Brunswick became part of Canada, Prime Minister [|Sir John A. Macdonald] invited Tilley to be a member of the [|federal government]. Tilley held several important jobs in the government, and later became the lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick in 1873. He retired in 1893 and died on June 25, 1896.



Sir George Étienne Cartier

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Cartier was born at St.-Antoine-sur-Richelieu in [|Lower Canada] on September 6, 1814. He came from a wealthy family who claimed to be very distant relatives of the famous French explorer Jacques Cartier. He became a lawyer in 1835 and also got involved in the railway business. Cartier became active in politics in 1848 when he was first elected as a member of the [|Province of Canada's] Assembly. He later became leader of a political [|party] called the Parti Bleu that joined with the Conservative Party of [|Upper Canada]. [|John A. Macdonald] led the Conservatives, and together he and Cartier were co-prime ministers of the Province of Canada. The two of them believed that forming a new, bigger country was the answer to the province's problems. Cartier was responsible for convincing most French Canadians that [|Confederation] would be good for French Canada, as it would make Quebec a separate [|province]. He died on May 20, 1873.

= **Questions ** =

1. With your partner(s), fill in the following chart on the Fathers of Confederation.


 * Father of Confederation || Region that he Represented before Confederation || New Name of the Region after Confederation || Place in Canada's Government after Confederation || Supportive of Confederation? ||

2. With your partner(s), brainstorm some groups of people in British North America that were excluded from participating directly in Canada's Confederation.

All information on Sir John A. MacDonald, Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley, Charles Tupper, Joseph Howe and Sir George Etienne Cartier taken from @http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/confederation/kids/023002-3000-e.html Source: Library and Archives of Canada.