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Promises of Confederation

How well has the promise of Confederation been met for an assigned province?


Outcomes References Related Resources

Suggested Activities

In this challenge, students explore the opportunities, challenges and consequences of Confederation by assessing how well the promise of Confederation was met for each of the identified provinces, in terms of political, economic, demographic and social benefit.

Activity 1
Help students understand the political, economic, demographic and social reasons for joining Confederation by discussing what it would be like to move homerooms or schools in the middle of the year. Assign students to adopt specific points of view; e.g., vocal person with many friends in the class he or she is leaving, a quiet student with a few close friends, the class clown, the receiving teacher. As a class, consider the political, economic, demographic and social advantages and disadvantages of the move from the assigned point of view. For example, a demographic advantage for the teacher receiving the students might be having a more diverse student composition that results in a wider array of perspectives. An economic disadvantage might be that they are being paid the same salary to work with more students. A social disadvantage may result if the arrival of new students disrupts the class dynamic.

Activity 2
Supply students with information, such as textbook references, websites and teacher-generated fact sheets that outlines various provinces' reasons for and against joining Canadian Confederation. Ensure a number of different perspectives are represented and that the consequences of joining are included from the perspective of Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. Students require information about the subsequent political, economic, demographic and social developments in each of these provinces. Relevant information may be found on the Historica and Library and Archives Canada websites (see References).

Consider adapting one of the charts in Collecting Information (Support Material) to structure and assess this activity, as illustrated below.

Opportunities prior to joining Confederation

Challenges prior to joining Confederation

Consequences after joining Confederation

Political

 

Economic

 

Demographic

 

Social

Political

 

Economic

 

Demographic

 

Social

Political

 

Economic

 

Demographic

 

Social

 


Activity 3

Invite students to discuss their findings and determine whether or not the choice to join Confederation was beneficial for the majority of groups represented. Direct students to rate the impact, in terms of political, economic, demographic and social benefit. They could write a few sentences to explain whether joining Confederation was more or less beneficial for each province. Consider adapting the chart and strategies found in Rating Options (Support Material) to structure and assess this activity.Extension

Invite students to assume a specific perspective, e.g., English, Francophone, Aboriginal, recent immigrant, and evaluate the impact of their province's decision to join Confederation.

Alternatively, you may wish to challenge the class to re-enact one of the Conferences; e.g., Charlottetown, Québec or London and draft an addendum to the British North America Act. The addendum should incorporate additional compromises or solutions to ensure that the less beneficial consequences for each province were minimized and that specific perspectives were respected. As the students work to reach consensus encourage them to discuss the issues, listen to each other's ideas and feelings, and think of solutions that will satisfy all parties.

Last updated: July 1, 2014 | (Revision History)
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