CANADA HISTORY - NATION BUILDING

Once Canada had become a county in name in 1867, the job of unifying, defining, and building an actual state began. The real expansion began in the 1870;s with a doubling and tripling of the country and the concept know as the national policy which was the connecting from Atlantic to Pacific of the land by rail became the Macdonald's creed. The creation and building of a national consciousness commenced in earnest during this period. For the first time, many in the new nation began to think of themselves as Canadian. This does not mean that all the French Canadians gave up their mindset as Canadiens or that Irish immigrants forgot their heritage or traditions or that British loyalty evaporated from the hearts and minds of all Orangemen, but many did feel themselves more a part of this new and exciting enterprise then any other and glowed at the opportunities and life that this new identity offered.