Confederation of 1867 Explained

On July 1, 1867, the British North America Act united the first provinces to form the Dominion of Canada. This event is called Confederation, and the date is now celebrated as Canada Day. For the citizenship test, remember the year 1867 and the four founding provinces.

What Confederation created

Confederation brought separate colonies together into a single country. The British North America Act served as the founding law: it established the Dominion of Canada and set out the basis for the federal government. The country kept a link with Britain but now managed its own internal affairs.

This union gave the provinces more strength together than they had apart, both for their economy and for their shared security.

The four original provinces

At the start, four provinces formed Canada. Others joined later, but the test focuses mainly on these four.

• Ontario
• Quebec
• Nova Scotia
• New Brunswick
• Date of union: July 1, 1867

The first Prime Minister

Sir John A. Macdonald became Canada's first Prime Minister in 1867. He had worked with other leaders, the Fathers of Confederation, to build the union of the provinces. His role is a fact that is often tested.

Why this matters for the test

Questions about Confederation come up regularly. You may be asked for the year (1867), the four original provinces, or the name of the first Prime Minister. To place this event within the rest of Canadian history, see the guide Canada Explained.

The best way to lock in these dates is practice. Train with our timed practice exams to spot the ideas you still need to review.

Frequently asked questions

When did Confederation take place? Confederation took place on July 1, 1867, when the British North America Act created the Dominion of Canada.

What were the four original provinces? The four original provinces were Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

What do we celebrate on July 1? On July 1, we celebrate Canada Day, which marks the anniversary of Confederation in 1867.