Path to Union Student Activities

Design a poster celebrating Confederation. Design a poster opposing Confederation.

Draw a diagram outlining the three cornerstones of Brown's constitutional plan.

Had the Fathers of Confederation not decided on "Dominion of Canada" as the name of the new country, what other alternatives might they have come up with?

List the compromises that were agreed upon at the Quebec Conference.

Compile a list of the major pre-Conference demands of the Maritimers and the Canadians. (You might do this in chart form.) Which side had the greatest list of demands? Why? Which side had the greatest chance of seeing its demands met at the Conference? Why?

What is the major difference and the major similarity between the Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences?

Which speaker, Brown, Macdonald, or Galt, do you think appealed the most to Maritimers? Why?

Divide the class into different representatives from the various colonies for either the Charlottetown Conference or the Quebec Conference. First, positions should be allocated within each delegation (finance, defense, trade, railways, etc.). Research your colonies' position on these various issues and what you would like to see decided at the Conference. Then conduct the Conference by first electing a chairman and establishing an agenda and then going through that agenda. Afterwards, make sure to debrief what you learned about what transpired in the Conference.

Draw a political cartoon focusing on either one of the principal delegates at the Quebec Conference or one of the issues.

Research the concept of "the mothers of Confederation." What does the term mean? Who were they? What impact did they have?

What talents or abilities would an individual conference participant require in order to be successful? Explain.

Write a contemporary newspaper editorial at the conclusion of the Quebec Conference.

Write the invitation that the Maritimers sent to the Canadians inviting them to Charlottetown.

Write the letter that Macdonald might have written to the Maritimers in order to receive an invitation to the Charlottetown Conference.

Analyze the compromises of Confederation. How did they come about? What was given up by which sides to achieve each specific resolution?

What impact did the St. Alban's raid have on the deliberations at the Quebec Conference? Explain.

Divide into pairs. Each student will write a contemporary newspaper article dated September 1, 1864 on the eve of the Charlottetown. One student will write from the perspective of a Maritime newspaper while the other student will write from the perspective or a Canadian newspaper. Afterwards, read one another's account and then identify and analyze the differences.

Explain how the United States cast a long shadow over the discussions at Quebec.

What are the "lessons of history" surrounding Confederation that politicians of today might apply?

An argument has sometimes been advanced that the Maritimes were "dragged into" Confederation. Write a position paper either supporting or refuting that thesis.

Conduct a debate on the following resolution: Resolved that Confederation was "a bundle of compromises."

Explain how a bicameral legislature satisfied the needs of the majority of the delegates at Quebec. Do the same thing again in the case of federalism.

In a conference setting, which factor, personality, reputation, evidence, or debating skills, had the most influence? Why?

Research the concept of "Maritime Union." What were its originals? What were its major features? How viable was it?

What "behind-the-scenes" events and strategies were important in moving the Charlottetown Conference towards a successful conclusion?

Why did Macdonald emerge as the principal author of the 72 Resolutions?

Why do you think Newfoundland refused to attend the Charlottetown Conference? Had you been a prominent Newfoundland politician of the time would you have supported the decision? Why or why not?

Write and then deliver the keynote opening address for either the Charlottetown, Quebec, or London Conference.