Two men, Macdonald and Laurier, served as Prime Minister for a total of 34 of the first 44 years after Confederation (1867-1911); Macdonald for 19 years and Laurier for 15 years. Both had their very real faults but both are credited as playing decisive roles in Canada’s history; Macdonald for helping the new, struggling nation to survive and Laurier for keeping it from dividing over the powerful nationalist and imperialist forces at work. This chapter describes not only the work of these prime ministers but the tensions of a diverse Canada which made it a difficult country to govern. 

Assignments

1 ) Macdonald is admired by many today but also much criticized, sometimes fairly and sometimes not (see my comments under Chapter 3), yet Canadians elected his government six (6) times and, under his leadership, Canada defied all odds and survived as a nation. Based on your reading of this chapter, why do you believe Macdonald was as effective as he was in his time as prime minister? This is not to be a summary of Macdonald’s accomplishments but needs to focus on the particular skills or qualities that he brought to the office of prime minister.

2) What question(s) came to your mind as you read about them