John A. Macdonald

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

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Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/john-a-macdonald

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was John A. Macdonald born?January 11, 1815
2. When did John A. Macdonald die?June 6, 1891 (age 76)
3. Where was John A. Macdonald born?Glasgow, Scotland
4. What is the career?Lawyer, politician, and statesman; served two terms as Prime Minister of Canada
5. What was John A. Macdonald's role in creating Canada?He was a leader who helped bring together the provinces and became the first Prime Minister of Canada when it was formed in 1867.
6. Why did John A. Macdonald want a united Canada?He believed a strong, unified country would be more prosperous and better able to defend itself from possible American expansion.

Confederation: The political union of British colonies in North America that formed the Dominion of Canada in 1867.
British North America Act: The foundational statute that established Canada's constitution and governmental structure.
Canadian Pacific Railway: A vital transcontinental railway completed in 1885, crucial for national unity and economic development.
Residential School System: A network of government-funded, church-run schools for Indigenous children, designed for assimilation and cultural suppression.