A Brief Biography Of Sir John Alexander Macdonald

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“My sins of omission and commission I do not deny; but I trust that it may be said of me in the ultimate issue, ‘Much is forgiven because he loved much’, for I have loved my country with a passionate love.”
- John Alexander Macdonald

Sir John Alexander MacDonald was the first prime minister of Canada, and he was truly a “founding father” and “nation builder”. When one is to look back at the history of Canada, one will find that the man have done countless things for the country he is passionate about. He helped bring the provinces of Upper and lower Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick together in 1867 to form Canada, then brought British Columbia, PEI, and the great North West Territories into the Canadian Federation. He established the National Policy, with the intention of creating a “true country with a national economy and political system” (Belanger). A Scottish men,with not only passion, yet also with wisdom and power in politics, drove him and his ambitions for the country at an astounding pace (Canada History). His major accomplishments to Canada also include the system of protective tariffs, the establishment of increased immigration to the west, and the construction of the trans-Canadian Pacific railroad, the three components of his National Policy; which, changed Canada to a very remarkable extent.

The very first component of his National Policy is on the tariffs, established in 1879. Up to 1846 and before 1879, there were two tariffs applicable to imports into Canada: an imperial tariff on foreign goods, and a colonial tariff leied on all imports limited to a maximum of 5 percent (Belanger). There was quite a downfall in the Canadian economy when American products were imported with low cost. The tariff o...

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... thought that while a political framework had been created in 1867 the dreamed up union could only last if it was cemented by the creation of a strong national economy - one that would run east-west rather than north-south. The future of Confederation, he thought, hinged upon the development of the West. Without such development, the Americans would take over the West, encircle Canada and inevitably bring about its annexation. Hence, the dream of creating a “separate, peaceful and orderly society on the northern half of the continent” would fade away. Without John A. MacDonald, the Canada that one is currently living in would have been very different. Either viewed as positive or negative to different people, he is truly one of the men that influenced Canada the most, and an “agent of change”. After all, he did not receive the name “Father of Canada” for nothing.

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