Grade 4 · Social Studies · Unit 5 of 6
Confederation & BC
Canada forms, BC joins
What your child practises
Confederation in 1867, why BC joined Canada in 1871 and the railway promise, the Canadian Pacific Railway, and how the provinces joined over time, with some years-between subtraction.
BC Curriculum learning standard: Confederation (1867); BC's path to joining Canada (1871) and the promise of a railway
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
Put the story of the railway in order.
- 🔨The Canadian Pacific Railway company is formed (1881)
- 🤝BC joins Canada with the promise of a railway (1871)
- 🛤️The last spike is hammered at Craigellachie (1885)
- 🚂The first passenger train reaches the Pacific coast (1886)
Show answer
BC joins Canada with the promise of a railway (1871) → The Canadian Pacific Railway company is formed (1881) → The last spike is hammered at Craigellachie (1885) → The first passenger train reaches the Pacific coast (1886)
Hint: First came the promise, then the railway company, then the last spike, and then the first passenger train.
Question 2
Why did many people in BC want to join Canada?
💰- The colony had big debts and wanted a railway link
- To start the fur trade
- To move BC's capital to Toronto
- Canada promised free gold
Show answer
The colony had big debts and wanted a railway link
Hint: Canada agreed to take over BC's debts and build a railway across the mountains.
Question 3
Which four provinces formed Canada in 1867?
🍁- British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba
- Yukon, Nunavut, Ontario and Quebec
- Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
- Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island
Show answer
Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
Hint: Canada started in the east. The western provinces joined later.
Question 4
Were First Nations invited to take part when leaders planned Confederation?
📜- Yes, they wrote the plan
- No, they were left out of the talks
- Yes, they led all the meetings
- Yes, every Nation voted on it
Show answer
No, they were left out of the talks
Hint: Confederation was planned by colonial leaders. First Nations, whose lands were affected, were not included.
Question 5
On July 1, 1867, four colonies joined to form the country of Canada. This is called…
🍁- Confederation
- the fur trade
- the gold rush
- a treaty
Show answer
Confederation
Hint: Confederation means joining together. We celebrate it every year on Canada Day.
Question 6
Thousands of Chinese workers built some of the hardest parts of the railway in BC. How were they treated?
🛤️- They were paid the most
- They became the railway's owners
- They were paid less and given the most dangerous jobs
- They were given free land
Show answer
They were paid less and given the most dangerous jobs
Hint: Their work was dangerous and unfair. In 2006, the government of Canada apologized for the unfair head tax later charged to Chinese newcomers.