Fathers of Confederation Grade 8 History

Sir Hector-Louis Langevin He was a lawyer, journalist, and politician. He was connected with the Liberal-Conservatives led by Cartier. He shared with Cartier the political leadership of the province of Quebec and the task of shaping the new Canada. He was a vocal defender for Quebec’s interests, customs, manners, and laws. He inherited the leadership of the Quebec wing of the Conservatives when Cartier died in 1873. Sir Hector-Louis Langevin

Thomas D’Arcy McGee He was a politician, journalist, and poet. In the spring of 1857 McGee moved to Montreal. In Montreal McGee’s first effort was another newspaper, the New Era, which he published for one year. In the New Era, McGee discussed his idea of Canada becoming “a new nationality”. In December 1857 D’Arcy McGee was one of three members elected to represent Montreal in the Legislative Assembly. At first, McGee supported the Reform government of George Brown. In 1864 he became a member of the Conservative Party. In 1868 he was assassinated, supposedly by a member of the Fenians. Thomas D’Arcy McGee

He came to Canada in 1835 to work for the British American Land Company. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada in 1849. Prior to Confederation, Galt was the Minister of Finance for two terms. Originally he supported the Reform Party but later he supported the Conservatives. Alexander Galt

In 1855, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly in Nova Scotia. Premier of Nova Scotia from1864-1867. He led Nova Scotia to Confederation. He was a delegate in the Charlottetown, Québec and London conferences Tupper served as: president of the Privy Council (1870-72), minister of inland revenue (1872-73), and minister of customs (1873) minister of public works (1878-79) and minister of railways and canals (1879-84) minister of finance (1887-88). In 1896 he served only 10 weeks as prime minister, the shortest tenure in Canadian history. Charles Tupper

Samuel Tilley He was a politician. He sat in the NB Assembly in 1850-51, 1854-56, 1857-65, 1866-67. He tried unsuccessfully to bring prohibition to NB in 1851-52 and 1855- 56. Tilley actively promoted railway development Confederation. A delegate to the Charlottetown and Québec conferences He and his Liberal government (elected 1861) were defeated on Confederation in NB in 1865, but were returned to power in 1866 In 1867 Tilley resigned from the NB Cabinet and became minister of customs With the fall of Macdonald, 5 Nov 1873, Tilley was appointed, that same day, lieutenant-governor of NB. With Macdonald's return to office in 1878, Tilley became minister of finance, In 1885, unwell, he retired to Government House, Fredericton, staying on as lieutenant-governor until 1893. Samuel Tilley

George Brown He was a journalist and politician. In1844, Brown created The Globe.  He was a member of the Reform Party. He campaigned for Representation by Population. At first he was against MacDonald and Cartier and Confederation. Later he sided with the idea of Confederation and formed a coalition with MacDonald and Cartier. He played a major role in the Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences. Throughout his life The Globe continued to be his main focus. In 1880, he was shot in the leg by a former Globe employee and died from his injury. George Brown

George-Etienne Cartier He was a lawyer, railway promoter, politician, prime minister of the Province of Canada. He was the leader of the Parti Bleu. Looked out for the rights of French Canadians. From 1857 to 1862 he served as co-premier of the united province with MacDonald. Cartier was a loyal friend of Macdonald. They created the Great Coalition with George Brown in 1864. He attended the Charolettetown, Quebec, and London Conferences.  The main reason for his support for Confederation, was because he was scared that the USA would invade BNA. In 1867, he became the Minister of Militia and Defence. George-Etienne Cartier

He was a lawyer, businessman, politician, and first prime minister of Canada. In 1844, he was elected as Conservative representative for Kingston, in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada. He was later appointed attorney general and served as co-premier from 1857 to 1862. He believed in joining the colonies and provinces into a Confederation. Macdonald drafted the British North America Act. He was knighted for his part in confederation. He had helped unite the provinces, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia as the Dominion of Canada, July 1st, 1867. Sir John A. Macdonald was appointed the first prime minister of Canada. John A. MacDonald