Confederation refers to the federation of four provinces of British North America that resulted in the creation of the Dominion of Canada in 1867. The Canadas (Ontario, then known as Canada West, and Quebec, then known as Canada East), joined Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in the union. Prince Edward Island did not join until 1873, and Newfoundland held out until 1949.
The architects of the union, known colloquially as the “Fathers of Confederation,” professed a general goal: to bring the different ethnic, religious, and regional groups of British North America together in a new polity that would establish a common Canadian identity while respecting minority rights. They negotiated an agreement in a series of conferences that took place in Charlottetown (1864), Quebec City (1864), and London (1866–67). The British North America Act came into effect on 1 July 1867.
