It is expected that students will:
C1
Describe the evolution of responsible government in Canada in terms of government structure and key contributing events
Students who have fully met the prescribed learning outcome are able to:
- describe the causes of the 1837-38 Rebellions, including
− land issues
− discrimination
− unequal taxation
− class conflict
− rule of Château Clique and Family Compact
- describe the consequences of the 1837-38 Rebellions (e.g., Durham Report, (primary document) Act of Union, Rebellion Losses Bill (primary document))
- describe changes in government structure from 1815 through to the achievement of responsible government (more detail)
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C2
Analyse political, economic, social, and geographical factors that led to Confederation and to the development of Canada’s provinces and territories
- compare the positions of Canada West and Canada East (Upper and Lower Canada), New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia on Confederation (territorial evolution maps)
- describe the steps leading to Confederation, (for teachers) including:
− Charlottetown Conference
− Quebec Conference
− London Conference and British permission
- describe factors that led to Confederation, including
− threat of annexation by the USA
− Fenian raids
− trade
− national railway and infrastructure
− financial considerations
− British support for colonial independence
- assess factors that led to the expansion of Canada (map) to include other provinces and territories, including
− purchase of Rupert’s Land (primary document 1868)
− the national railway (interactive map)
− sea-to-sea unification
− threat of annexation by the USA
− the Klondike gold rush (more and study guide)
− agricultural settlement
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C3 Describe the events of the Red River and Northwest Rebellions
- identify factors that led to the Red River and Northwest Rebellions (e.g., land issues, minority rights, government response to Métis discontent, cultural conflict) (comprehensive site)
- describe the key events of the Red River Rebellion, including
− Canada’s purchase of Rupert’s Land
− arrival of land surveyors
− formation of the Métis National Committee
− Métis provisional government
− Métis List of Rights
− Métis delegation of Ottawa
− execution of Thomas Scott
− Louis Riel’s exile
− entry of Manitoba into Confederation
- describe the key events of the Northwest Rebellion, including
− government treatment of Aboriginal peoples
− return of Louis Riel
− Battles of Duck Lake, Fish Creek, and Batoche
Resources:
- The Red River Rebellion through the eyes of the media of the time
- Biography of Louis Riel
- Biography of Louis Riel from the Metis Nation site
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C4
Describe the structure and function of Canada’s federal, provincial and local governments.
- explain the fundamental nature of the BNA Act (primary document) in terms of the division of powers between the federal and provincial governments
- describe the three branches of federal government:
− executive branch (e.g., Prime Minister, cabinet, civil service, Governor General)
− legislative branch (e.g., Senate, House of Commons, Governor General, Speaker, political parties)
− judicial branch (Supreme Court, federal court, provincial courts, rule of law) (Supreme Court teacher's kit)
- describe the components of the BC provincial government (e.g., Premier, MLAs, Legislative Assembly, Lieutenant Governor) (online tour - Discover your Legislature) (webcasts) (Hansard)
- describe the components of municipal governments (e.g., mayor, councillors, bylaws)
