United Empire Loyalists & The War of 1812
- United Empire Loyalists: Following the American Revolutionary War (1776), more than 40,000 colonists fled north to remain loyal to the British Crown, settling in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Upper Canada (Ontario).
- The War of 1812: The United States invaded Canada in 1812. British regulars, Canadian militia, and Indigenous warriors led by Shawnee Chief Tecumseh successfully defended Canada. Laura Secord famously made a 30 km journey on foot in 1813 to warn British forces of a surprise attack. In 1814, British forces burned the White House in Washington, D.C.
Confederation: July 1, 1867
With the threat of American expansionism and political deadlock, leaders known as the Fathers of Confederation met at conferences in Charlottetown and Quebec City to create a new federal dominion.
- The British North America Act (1867): Passed by British Parliament, creating the Dominion of Canada on July 1, 1867 (celebrated annually as Canada Day).
- Original Four Provinces: Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.
- Sir John A. Macdonald: A Father of Confederation and Canada's first Prime Minister.
Transcontinental Expansion & The Railway
To fulfill the promise of bringing British Columbia into Confederation in 1871, Canada constructed the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) across rugged mountains and prairies. The 'last spike' was driven at Craigellachie, BC, in November 1885, completing a transcontinental ribbon of steel.