What year was Confederation?
Quick answer: 1867. In our practice tests 79% of 104 answers were correct, and the most common mistake is choosing “1871”.
Why is this the correct answer?
Confederation occurred in 1867 when Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick united under the British North America Act to form the Dominion of Canada on July 1st.
Study Tip
Think about a significant event in Canadian history that united the provinces under a single government.
What should you know about this topic?
Confederation took place on July 1, 1867, when the British North America Act (now called the Constitution Act, 1867) created the Dominion of Canada. Discover Canada explains that the four founding provinces were Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The province of Canada was divided into two new provinces, Ontario and Quebec, which joined with the Maritime colonies to form the new country.
Leaders called the Fathers of Confederation worked for several years to bring the colonies together. They met at conferences in Charlottetown and Quebec City in 1864, and in London in 1866 and 1867. Their goals included a stronger defence against a possible American attack, better trade, and a railway to connect the colonies. Sir John A. Macdonald became Canada's first Prime Minister. The word "Dominion" was suggested by Sir Leonard Tilley.
After 1867, other provinces and territories joined: Manitoba and the Northwest Territories in 1870, British Columbia in 1871, Prince Edward Island in 1873, Yukon in 1898, Alberta and Saskatchewan in 1905, Newfoundland in 1949, and Nunavut in 1999. July 1 was celebrated as Dominion Day and was later renamed Canada Day in 1982. Knowing these dates helps with many history questions. The motto of Canada, A Mari Usque Ad Mare, meaning "from sea to sea", reflects how the country grew after 1867. Canada Day is celebrated every year with events across the country.
Why are the other answers wrong?
- 1864: 1864 was the year of the Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences, which planned Confederation but did not create Canada.
- 1871: 1871 is when British Columbia joined Confederation, four years after it began.
- 1898: 1898 is when Yukon became a territory, during the Klondike Gold Rush era.
What is the most common mistake?
Learners sometimes pick 1864 because of the Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences. Those meetings planned Confederation, but the country was created in 1867.
How can you remember the answer?
"1-8-6-7: Canada's birthday, Canada's heaven": July 1, 1867.
Original data
How many people get this question right?
79% of 104 practice answers from about 72 people were correct. The most common wrong answer is "1871", chosen 10% 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 76th hardest 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.
Practice This Chapter
Test yourself with questions from Canada's History. Timed mock tests, instant scoring, and detailed explanations.
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.