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John A. is Born
John Alexander MacDonald, the future prime minister of Canada, is born in Scotland to Hugh and Helen Macdonald, with four brothes and sisters. -
Act of Union
Lord Durham of Britain arrived in Canada, recommending a union of the Canadas for peace.The Act of Union merged Upper Canada and Lower Canada, getting one step closer to unifing the whole country. -
Alderman
John A. is voted alderman of Kingston's Fourth Ward by 113 votes, which became one of the first of many victories to come. -
Marriage
John A. Macdonald and Isabella Clark, his first cousin are wed. Isabella later became an invalid due to her unknown illness, but still bore him two children. One passed away in infanthood. -
Hugh's Birth
The only surviving son of John A. Macdonald, Hugh John Macdonald was born to Isabella and John A. Macdonald. He would later become a member of Parliament. -
Reciprocity Treaty
This treaty was signed between Canada and the U.S. This diminished and balanced custom duties, maintaining peace between the two tensed countries. -
New Capital of Canada
Queen Victoria annouces that she chooses Ottawatown as the new Capital of Canada, causing unrest among the government. -
Isabella's Death
Isabella Clark, wife of John A. MacDonald, dies due to an illness, leaving behind seven-year-old Hugh John MacDonald to be raised by his father and aunt. -
Victory
An opposing member sugggested to the Queen that Ottawa wasn't fit to be the capital. They voted, and the government was defeated. Macdonald resigned, and new leader George Brown was forced to form a government. They lost their seats in the Assembly by accepting office, and a by-election was held, where Macdonald defeated the new government and formed a new one. -
The Great Coalition
John A. MacDonald forms an alliance with George-Etienne Cartier to stop the political deadlocck by uniting the two Canadas. This was a crucial event which led directly to Confederation. -
Charlottetown Conference
New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia wanted to fuse together into a single British colony, so they organized a conference. The idea did not work, however, this persuaded Canada to form a larger union, thus sparking Confederation. The 72 Resulutions were also passed here, stating the decisions made. The conference was completed on September 9, 1864. -
Quebec Conference
The purpose of the conference was to discuss uniting British North America. Thirty-three representatives of Canada and the other colonies attended, and were later known as the Fathers of Confederation. During the meeting, the BNA act was drafted. -
American Civil War Ends
After the Civil War, America wanted to annex Canada (take its property and expand their territory). This convinced the government to unite Canada, making it stronger so that it could defend itself against the U.S. and/or avoid more wars. -
Fenian Raids
The Fenian Brotherhood, Irish Americans that wanted to free Ireland from British rule, invade Canada so that they can use it as a hostage against Britain. They crossed the Niagara River with one thousand five hundred men, occupying Fort Erie. The British Army went against them at Welland Canal, and the Fenians eventually retreated. This persuaded those present at the London Conference later to take action. -
London Conference
Canadian, Nova Scotian and New Brunswick representatives met with the British government in London, England. It was the crucial point between the Quebec Conference and the BNA act. -
Second Marriage
John. A is wed for the second time, to Agnes Bernard, sister to John's secretary Hewitt Bernard. She lives 29 years after his death. -
BNA Act
The British North America act. which would be the laws and rules of Canada for quite a long time into the future, was passed in the House of Commons. Queen Victoria gave it Royal Assent twenty-one days later. -
Confederation
Canada becomes an individual country, of which John A. Macdonald is Prime Minister. being appointed by Lord Monck. John A. is also knighted on this day, which would later become Canada Day. -
Provinces Join
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec join Confederation. -
Mary's Birth
Margaret Mary Theodora MacDonald is born to Agnes and John, with a brain condition callled hydrocephalus, which caused her to be unable to walk, easily use her hands or talk clearly. Even so, Mary was an intelligent child. John and Agnes were very fond of their daughter and gave her many learning opportunities. She was even taken to her father's Parliament debates. -
Manitoba
The Red River Colony, including the Metis, were afraid that they were going to be forced into a rule that they did not want, formed the Red River Rebellion (led by Louis Riel). Macdonald managed to control the unrest, but it ended with the Red River Colony joining Confederation as Manitoba. -
N.W.T.
When the Red River Colony joined Confederation (see Manitoba), the rest of the bought land formed the North-West Territories, and joined on the same date. -
B.C.
The United States wanted to annex the Colony of British Columbia, but George-Etienne Cartier promised them (B.C.) a railroad connecting them to the rest of Canada within ten years. They accepted the offer and joined Confederation. -
P.E.I.
John A., not wanting Canada to be annexed by the U.S., continually bribed P.E.I. to join Canada. They refuse, until, trying to build a railway, the government became in debt. Canada agreed to give them money to pay their debt and complete the railway. In an election, P.E.I. had the option of joining Canada or having higher taxes, and they chose to join Confederation. -
Resignation
After a scandal, and decreasing support from Canada, John A. went to Lord Dufferin to resign from his position as Prime MInister, leaving (Liberal) Alexander MacKenzie to take his place. A day later, he goes to resign as Conservative party leader, but they refuse his resignation. -
Death
John A. Macdonald dies of the aftereffects of a stroke. He was buried near his first wife, Isabella in Kingston. Because of his death, his second wife, Agnes becomes a Baroness, though it ends at the time of her death, twenty-nine years later.
