The Road to Confederation

**The Battle of the Plains of Abraham (1759)** British forces under General Wolfe defeated French forces under the Marquis de Montcalm at Quebec City. Both commanders were killed. This battle effectively ended France's empire in North America. **The Quebec Act (1774)** Allowed French Canadians to practise their Catholic religion and use French civil law — protecting French Canadian identity under British rule. **The United Empire Loyalists** After the American Revolution (1775-1783), more than 40,000 Loyalists came to Canada, transforming its demographics. They included Black Loyalists and Aboriginal allies. **The Constitutional Act (1791)** Divided the Province of Quebec into Upper Canada (Ontario) and Lower Canada (Quebec), granting both elected legislative assemblies. **Abolition of slavery** Upper Canada's Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe led the province to become the first in the British Empire to move against slavery (1793). The Underground Railroad helped thousands of escaped slaves find freedom in Canada. **The War of 1812** The United States attempted to invade Canada but was repelled. Canadian heroes included Major-General Sir Isaac Brock, who died at the Battle of Queenston Heights, and Laura Secord, who walked 32 km to warn British forces of an American attack. The war helped forge a sense of distinct Canadian identity. **Responsible government** By the 1840s, reformers led by men like Joseph Howe in Nova Scotia achieved responsible government — meaning the Cabinet must maintain the confidence of the elected legislature. This was a crucial step toward democratic self-government. **Confederation (1867)** The Fathers of Confederation — led by Sir John A. Macdonald and George-Étienne Cartier — negotiated the British North America Act, creating Canada on July 1, 1867. Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were the founding provinces. July 1st is now celebrated as **Canada Day**.