Fathers of Confederation
Sir John A. MacDonald (Canada West) 1815-1891
- First Prime Minister of Canada (Terms 1867-1873; 1878-1891)
- One of the Fathers of Confederation
- Was involved in starting the Liberal-Conservative Party
- Wrote and devised 50 out of the 72 resolutions to build a foundation for Canada
- Spoke in support of Confederation at the Charlottetown, Quebec, and London conferences
- Sir John A. Macdonald. (2015, February 5). Retrieved April 7, 2015, from http://canada150.gc.ca/eng/1408380177760
- Johnson, J.. R. The Canadian Encyclopedia. (2013). Sir john a. macdonald. Retrieved April 7, 2015 From http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-john-alexander-macdonald/.
Sir George-Etienne Cartier (Canada East) 1814-1873
- Joined forces with MacDonald's Conservative party and George Brown's Clear Grit Party in search of a united Canada
- Convinced representatives of the Maritime colonies of the Confederate cause at the Charlottetown conference
- Represented MacDonald as Prime Minister during his illnesses
- Wanted to unite Canada to be strong against invasion, while without taking away French Canadians' rights and powers
- Sweeny, A.. R. The Canadian Encyclopedia. (2008). Sir george-étienne cartier. Retrieved April 9, 2015 From http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-george-etienne-cartier/.
- Sweeney, A. (2014, January 3). Confederation's true father? George-Étienne Cartier. Retrieved April 9, 2015, from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/confederations-true-father-george-etienne-cartier/article16177890/
George Brown (Canada West) 1818-1880
- Was the leader of the Clear Grit Party in Canada West
- Joined his political enemies John A. MacDonald and George-Etienne Cartier in a coalition that would bring Confederation to Canada.
- Started a newspaper called Toronto Globe, which later became The Globe And Mail.
- Was an influential delegate at the Charlottetown and Quebec conferences.
- Careless, J.. R. The Canadian Encyclopedia. (2008). George brown. Retrieved April 11, 2015 From http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/george-brown/.
Sir Charles Tupper (Nova Scotia) 1821-1918
- Was the premier of Nova Scotia from 1864-67
- Wanted union in both the Maritimes and in British North America.
- “What is a British-American, but a man regarded as a mere dependent upon an empire which, however great and glorious, does not recognize him as entitled to any voice in her Senate, or possessing any interests worthy of imperial regard. British America, stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, would in a few years exhibit to the world a great and powerful organization.”--Charles Tupper, 1860
- Convinced the government at Nova Scotia in a vote to join Confederation
- Farr, D.. R. The Canadian Encyclopedia. (2008). Sir charles tupper. Retrieved April 11, 2015 From http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-charles-tupper/.
Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley (New Brunswick) 1818-1896
- Lientenant-governor, premier of New Brunswick.
- Was defeated in election by anti-Confederation supporters lead by Albert Smith in 1865
- Regained the people's support after campaigning vigorously in New Brunswick.
- Came back to win another election as pro-Confederation supporters after the Smith administration resignation in 1866
- Won enough support in the New Brunswick government to push Confederation forward, by a vote of 31 to 8
- Was credited for the idea of the name "Dominion of Canada", based on Psalm 72:8 in the Bible, which he proposed at the London conference.
- Waite, P. & Harris, C.. R. The Canadian Encyclopedia. (2008). Sir samuel leonard tilley. Retrieved April 11, 2015 From http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-samuel-leonard-tilley/.