Sir John A. Macdonald's Unified Canada

Sir John A. Macdonald is revered as the father figure of Canada, and in his day united various conflicting factions such as the Maritimes and French Canadians - a powerful force in creating a unified Canada. The political quagmire of the 1860s provided no encouragement for Macdonald’s unification goals, as the interests of Canada East and Canada West were paralyzed by incessant political dispute. The French and English blocs in the legislature could not agree on any matter and adding to Macdonald’s discomfort, the prospect of the Maritimes joining grew increasingly bleak. However, Macdonald’s skill as a politician allowed for him to navigate this rough political terrain - forming a strong coalition between Le Parti Bleu under George-Étienne
Initially, Cartier was sent along with his colleague William McDougall to London to finalize the deal, but however, McDougall fell ill. Cartier was then left no choice but to face this burden single-handedly, and after half a year of discussion, agreed to transfer Rupert's Land for the bargain price of £300,000, or $1.5 million. To get some comparison, the United States purchased Alaska for $7.2 million, meaning that Rupert’s Land would have an equivalent value of $35 million. After this miraculous deal, Cartier wasted no time and immediately began the administration of these new lands as soon as he returned back. Along with Macdonald, Cartier welcomed British Columbia into the Confederation with the Canadian Pacific Railway. Some argue he may have the most influential role in this transcontinental project - spearheading all negotiations with John Helmcken, the leader of British Columbia at the time. This lucrative project lured the interest of many American railway magnates, looking for opportunity to benefit from this monumental project. Cartier’s delegation remained resilient and put this American interest to bed, completing the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885. Cartier is the undisputable leader of Canada’s West: handling the purchase of Rupert’s Land and the North-Western Territory and bringing British Columbia into the picture. Without him, Canada would not have gained such a significant foothold on the Prairies and territories west of the Rocky Mountains may have fallen to American expansionism. Without Cartier, Canada would be without its