Sir John A. Macdonald's Unified Canada

Sir John A. Macdonald is revered as the father figure of Canada, and in his day united various conflicting factions such as the Maritimes and French Canadians - a powerful force in creating a unified Canada. The political quagmire of the 1860s provided no encouragement for Macdonald’s unification goals, as the interests of Canada East and Canada West were paralyzed by incessant political dispute. The French and English blocs in the legislature could not agree on any matter and adding to Macdonald’s discomfort, the prospect of the Maritimes joining grew increasingly bleak. However, Macdonald’s skill as a politician allowed for him to navigate this rough political terrain - forming a strong coalition between Le Parti Bleu under George-Étienne
Cartier and the Clear Grits under George Brown. As a precursor to Confederation, Macdonald used this success to persuade Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to join Canada at the Charlottetown Conference. Having fired up the idea of Confederation at Charlottetown, Macdonald continued in the Quebec Conference of 1864 by creating the Quebec Resolutions - the framework for the potential Canadian Confederation. At last, Macdonald served as the chairman in the next conference held in London, United Kingdom and created the Dominion of Canada. Macdonald’s relentless leadership through this arduous journey has secured him in the hearts of many and have made him a significant contributor to Canada’s history.
Macdonald’s command did not end immediately after the Confederation, as Macdonald’s vision of the Canadian Pacific Railway and the North West Mounted Police allowed the Canadian government to extend their newfound political legitimacy from coast to coast. The Canadian Pacific Railway was envisioned to avoid military tension against the United States - British Columbia cut off from Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes which were bounded by the Confederation. The United States expressed interest in annexing the isolated British Columbia, paving the way for inevitable military action. The solution of a more unified Canada initiated the Canadian Pacific Railway, a transcontinental railway linking the Canada’s East and West to which Macdonald was a critical administrator of. American interest dwindled as a result and Canada strategically sidestepped armed conflict, maintaining its relatively clear warefare record. Under this same political direction, Macdonald’s North West Mounted Police also had its share in dismounting American expansionist motives - this force bringing benefits and protections to Canadian sovereignty at the time. In particular, the NWMP played a crucial role in protecting the borders during the Klondike Gold Rush, where many flocked to the Yukon for the pursuit of gold. The NWMP kept the area in check - collecting customs and establishing criminal law. This as a result dampened the influence of American miners and prevented American imperialist movements from weakening the country. Macdonald’s hefty contribution can still be seen today, with the NWMP seen as the predecessor to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police still active today.
Though the engine of this triumvirate, Sir George-Étienne Cartier is an unsung hero in the history books and saw his much-deserved adulation shoved into the hands of Macdonald. Cartier played an immense role in the incorporation of the new province of Manitoba into Canada. When Canada annexed the Northwest, fury erupted among the various First Nations groups in the new territories. For example, the Métis, under the notorious Louis Riel formed a provisional government that directly opposed Canadian rule. The pragmatic Cartier sympathized with the desires of the Métis, leading peaceful meditations and negotiating their acceptance of provincehood. Under the successful Manitoba Act, Canada officially recognized Manitoba as a province along with the respect and guarantee of the rights and customs of the Métis people. Cartier’s diplomacy abated the hostility of this restless group and ushered a new province into the young country; had it not been for the tact of Sir George-Étienne Cartier, Canada would have erupted into full-scale civil conflict.
Cartier’s political leadership was also felt in the West, as he not only single-handedly handled the purchase of Rupert’s Land and the North-Western Territory from the Hudson’s Bay Company but also played a primary role in bringing British Columbia into the Confederation.
Initially, Cartier was sent along with his colleague William McDougall to London to finalize the deal, but however, McDougall fell ill. Cartier was then left no choice but to face this burden single-handedly, and after half a year of discussion, agreed to transfer Rupert's Land for the bargain price of £300,000, or $1.5 million. To get some comparison, the United States purchased Alaska for $7.2 million, meaning that Rupert’s Land would have an equivalent value of $35 million. After this miraculous deal, Cartier wasted no time and immediately began the administration of these new lands as soon as he returned back. Along with Macdonald, Cartier welcomed British Columbia into the Confederation with the Canadian Pacific Railway. Some argue he may have the most influential role in this transcontinental project - spearheading all negotiations with John Helmcken, the leader of British Columbia at the time. This lucrative project lured the interest of many American railway magnates, looking for opportunity to benefit from this monumental project. Cartier’s delegation remained resilient and put this American interest to bed, completing the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885. Cartier is the undisputable leader of Canada’s West: handling the purchase of Rupert’s Land and the North-Western Territory and bringing British Columbia into the picture. Without him, Canada would not have gained such a significant foothold on the Prairies and territories west of the Rocky Mountains may have fallen to American expansionism. Without Cartier, Canada would be without its
West.
Lastly, Lord Charles Stanley Monck, the last Governor-General of the Province of Canada played an all-important role in pushing Canada towards Confederation. During the height of the American Civil War in 1861, the Trent Affair broke out, where an American frigate intercepted the British RMS Trent and took two Confederate diplomats as prisoners of war. Despite Britain's calls to free the duo, the United States disregarded these calls. Britain increased their military presence in Canada, foreseeing military conflict. Throughout this time, Canadians feared that Canada may be the battleground between the British and the Americans, but Lord Monck used his diplomatic craft to soothe violent conflict. In particular, Monck’s friendship with British Minister at Washington D.C Lord Lyons allowed him to mitigate the raging tempers between Britain and America. Lord Monck’s role in the years preceding the Confederation set the stage perfectly for Macdonald to take hold - leaving Canada unscathed and leaving a determined Canada ready for unification.