What did the Fathers of Confederation do?
Quick answer: They worked together to establish a new country, the Dominion of Canada. In our practice tests 84% of 102 answers were correct, and the most common mistake is choosing “They were explorers who formed an expedition to survey Northern Canada”.
Why is this the correct answer?
The Fathers of Confederation were leaders from the colonies who worked together to create the Dominion of Canada in 1867 through the British North America Act (now the Constitution Act, 1867).
Study Tip
The Fathers of Confederation played a key role in shaping Canada's future by coming together to discuss and create a unified government. Their efforts led to the formation of a new country.
What should you know about this topic?
The Fathers of Confederation were the political leaders who worked together to create the Dominion of Canada. From 1864 to 1867, representatives from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Province of Canada met at conferences in Charlottetown, Quebec City and London, England, to plan a new country with the support of the British government.
Their work led to the British North America Act, which created the Dominion of Canada on July 1, 1867, now celebrated as Canada Day. At first, the country had four provinces: Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The Province of Canada was split into Ontario and Quebec at that time. The Fathers of Confederation designed a federal system in which power is shared between a national government and provincial governments, so that both English- and French-speaking communities could protect their interests.
Sir John A. Macdonald became Canada's first Prime Minister, and Sir George-Étienne Cartier was the key leader who brought Quebec into Confederation. Discover Canada explains that the term Dominion of Canada was suggested by Sir Leonard Tilley, a Father of Confederation from New Brunswick, inspired by a line from Psalm 72 in the Bible. Related test topics include the meaning of Confederation, the order in which provinces joined Canada, and the British North America Act. Their meetings were often long and difficult because the colonies had different interests, but they reached a compromise.
Why are the other answers wrong?
- They formed a republic state in Canada: Canada was not created as a republic. It became a constitutional monarchy with the Sovereign as Head of State.
- They were explorers who formed an expedition to survey Northern Canada: Explorers such as Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain came much earlier. The Fathers of Confederation were political leaders, not explorers.
- They were a group of politicians that tried to unite Canada to the United States: The Fathers of Confederation wanted a separate country within the British Empire, partly to protect British North America from American expansion.
What is the most common mistake?
Some learners think the Fathers of Confederation were explorers or revolutionaries. They were elected politicians who negotiated peacefully to create Canada in 1867.
How can you remember the answer?
Fathers give birth to a family; the Fathers of Confederation gave birth to Canada on July 1, 1867.
Original data
How many people get this question right?
84% of 102 practice answers from about 76 people were correct. The most common wrong answer is "They were explorers who formed an expedition to survey Northern Canada", chosen 6% of the time. The data covers practice tests on BecomeACitizen.ca from March 31, 2026 to September 30, 2026.
How hard is this question compared with others?
It is the 66th easiest of the 167 questions we have enough data to rank. The average for the Canada's History chapter is 68% correct, and the average across all questions is 75%. You need 75% to pass the real test.
These are practice questions written from the official Discover Canada guide. IRCC does not publish the real test questions. See the full ranking in the 20 most-missed citizenship test questions or browse more Canada's History questions.
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Which part of Discover Canada is this question from?
This question is from the Canada's History section of the Canadian citizenship test. The test consists of 20 multiple-choice questions drawn from the official Discover Canada study guide. You need to score at least 75% (15 out of 20 correct) to pass.
This chapter has 61 questions in our database. Studying chapter by chapter is one of the most effective ways to prepare, as it helps you build deep understanding of each topic before moving to the next.
How should you study for the citizenship test?
Start by reading the complete how-to-pass guide, then work through each chapter in the study mode. When you feel ready, take a full exam simulation with the real 45-minute time limit.