Name:

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Grade 5 Social
Unit 8: Building Canada Test

Answer questions in complete sentences unless otherwise indicated.


1) Name the four provinces that first joined Confederation. (4 marks)

Nova Scotia New Brunswick Ontario Quebec

2) Which group of people was left out of Confederation? (1 mark)

The First Nations were left out of Confederation.

3) Anglophones and Francophones had different reasons for wanting to join Confederation. List two
reasons for each group. (4 marks)

Anglophone Francophone
(Why did some Anglophones want to join Confederation?) (Why did some Francophones want to join Confederation?)

1. It would encourage trade (helping the 1. Becoming their own province would help them
economy) protect their language, culture, identity
2. It would end the governments deadlock 2. It would allow room for Francophone settlers
3. It would protect them from American attack to expand (spread culture)
4. They could build a railway 3. The economy, political deadlock, railway, and
fear of American aggression may also be
applicable here

4) Why was it important to build a railway across the country? Give two reasons. (2 marks)
1. Allow settlers and supplies to be moved west
2. Allow the flow of goods, promoting trade
3. Allow the quick movement of troops
4. Connect BC to the rest of the country
5. Create a border to stop the Americans


5) List two challenges involved in building the railway. (2 marks)
1. The buffalo got in the way of construction
2. Landforms like mountains, lakes, rivers, etc.
3. Building the railway was expensive
4. It was very dangerous for the workers

6) How did the railway change the life of First Nations people in Canada? Give two examples. (2
marks)
1. The railway brought new settlers who thought they owned the land
2. First Nations were moved onto small pieces of land called reserves
3. With the bison gone, the First Nations faced starvation
4. Sparks from trains could start grassfires, destroying homes
5. The railway divided traditional First Nations homelands

7) What is the difference between a majority and a minority? (1 mark)

A majority is the largest in number in two or more groups and a minority is the smallest in number
in two or more groups.

8) Match the person/figure/individual from our chapter to their accomplishment. (5 marks)

C Harold Cardinal a) Surveyed a pass through the Rocky Mountains

A A. B. Rogers b) Leader of Ontario during Confederation

D George-Etienne Cartier c) Wrote The Unjust Society

E William Van Horne d) Leader of Quebec during Confederation

B John A. Macdonald e) Chief engineer of the Canadian Pacific Railway

9). John A. Macdonald and George-Etienne Cartier were allies. What does this mean? (1 mark)

They worked together/cooperated to help each other in a debate/argument.