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Canada's history questions
There are 130 canada's history practice questions here, each with its correct answer and an explanation, written from Discover Canada. The real Canadian Citizenship Test is 20 questions in 45 minutes and you need 15 correct to pass. Reading is free and needs no account.
You will learn more by taking a timed test than by reading answers.
51.Who recommended merging Upper and Lower Canada and granting responsible government?
- ALord Elgin
- BLord Stanley
- CLord Strathcona
- DLord Durham
Lord Durham recommended that Upper and Lower Canada be merged and given responsible government. (Rebellions and responsible government)
52.When were Upper and Lower Canada united as the Province of Canada?
- AIn 1848
- BIn 1840
- CIn 1791
- DIn 1867
In 1840 Upper and Lower Canada were united as the Province of Canada. (Rebellions and responsible government)
53.What happened to the armed rebellions of 1837-38?
- AThey were abandoned before any fighting
- BThey succeeded and brought responsible government
- CThey led Canada to join the United States
- DThey were defeated by British troops and Canadian volunteers
Armed rebellions occurred in 1837-38 outside Montreal and in Toronto and were defeated by British troops and Canadian volunteers. (Rebellions and responsible government)
54.What does Confederation mean?
- AThe division of Quebec into two provinces
- BThe granting of responsible government
- CThe amendment of the Constitution in 1982
- DThe union that formed the Dominion of Canada in 1867
Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia formed the new country called the Dominion of Canada. (Confederation)
55.On what date was the Dominion of Canada born?
- A1 July 1867
- B1 January 1867
- C11 January 1815
- D17 April 1982
The Dominion of Canada was officially born on July 1, 1867. (Confederation)
56.Which four provinces formed the Dominion of Canada in 1867?
- AOntario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
- BNova Scotia, New Brunswick, P.E.I. and Newfoundland
- COntario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island
- DOntario, Quebec, Manitoba and British Columbia
Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia formed the new country called the Dominion of Canada. (Confederation)
57.Which Act of the British Parliament created the Dominion of Canada?
- AThe Official Languages Act
- BThe Constitutional Act
- CThe Quebec Act
- DThe British North America Act
The British Parliament passed the British North America Act in 1867. (Confederation)
58.What two levels of government did the Fathers of Confederation create?
- AFederal and municipal
- BFederal and provincial
- CProvincial and municipal
- DImperial and colonial
Confederation created two levels of government: federal and provincial. (Confederation)
59.What was 1 July called before 1982?
- ADominion Day
- BEmpire Day
- CConfederation Day
- DVictoria Day
Until 1982 July 1 was celebrated as Dominion Day, and today it is officially known as Canada Day. (Confederation)
60.Who suggested the term Dominion of Canada?
- ASir George-Étienne Cartier
- BSir Leonard Tilley
- CSir John A. Macdonald
- DLord Durham
The phrase Dominion of Canada was proposed in 1864 by Sir Leonard Tilley of New Brunswick, a Father of Confederation. (Confederation)
61.Which areas did the new provinces control?
- ACurrency and navigation
- BCriminal law and citizenship
- CEducation and health
- DDefence and foreign policy
Each province would elect its own legislature and have control of such areas as education and health. (Confederation)
62.Who was Canada’s first Prime Minister?
- ASir Leonard Tilley
- BSir Wilfrid Laurier
- CSir George-Étienne Cartier
- DSir John Alexander Macdonald
Sir John Alexander Macdonald became Canada's first Prime Minister in 1867. (Macdonald, Cartier and expansion of the Dominion)
63.On which bill does Sir John A. Macdonald’s portrait appear?
- AThe $50 bill
- BThe $10 bill
- CThe $20 bill
- DThe $5 bill
Sir John A. Macdonald's portrait is on the $10 bill. (Macdonald, Cartier and expansion of the Dominion)
64.Which date is Sir John A. Macdonald Day?
- A1 July
- B11 January
- C20 November
- D9 April
Parliament has recognized January 11 as Sir John A. Macdonald Day. (Macdonald, Cartier and expansion of the Dominion)
65.Who was the key architect of Confederation from Quebec?
- ASir Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine
- BSir George-Étienne Cartier
- CSir Wilfrid Laurier
- DSir Leonard Tilley
Sir George-Étienne Cartier was the key architect of Confederation from Quebec. (Macdonald, Cartier and expansion of the Dominion)
66.In which year did British Columbia join Canada?
- A1871
- B1870
- C1905
- D1873
British Columbia joined Canada in 1871. (Macdonald, Cartier and expansion of the Dominion)
67.Which two provinces joined Canada in 1905?
- ANewfoundland and Prince Edward Island
- BManitoba and British Columbia
- COntario and Quebec
- DAlberta and Saskatchewan
Alberta and Saskatchewan joined Canada in 1905. (Macdonald, Cartier and expansion of the Dominion)
68.In which year did Newfoundland and Labrador join Canada?
- A1949
- B1873
- C1905
- D1898
Newfoundland and Labrador joined Canada in 1949. (Macdonald, Cartier and expansion of the Dominion)
69.In which year was Nunavut created?
- A1999
- B1949
- C1905
- D1898
Nunavut was created in 1999. (Macdonald, Cartier and expansion of the Dominion)
70.In which year did Prince Edward Island join Canada?
- A1870
- B1873
- C1871
- D1867
Prince Edward Island joined Canada in 1873. (Macdonald, Cartier and expansion of the Dominion)
71.Who led the Métis uprising at Red River?
- AChief Tecumseh
- BLouis Riel
- CJoseph Brant
- DGabriel Dumont
Louis Riel led an armed uprising and seized Fort Garry, the territorial capital. (Louis Riel, the Métis and the Mounties)
72.Which fort did Riel seize?
- AFort Henry
- BFort Garry
- CFort Calgary
- DFort MacLeod
Louis Riel led an armed uprising and seized Fort Garry, the territorial capital. (Louis Riel, the Métis and the Mounties)
73.Which new province did Canada establish after the first Métis uprising?
- AAlberta
- BBritish Columbia
- CSaskatchewan
- DManitoba
Ottawa sent soldiers to retake Fort Garry in 1870 and Canada established a new province, Manitoba. (Louis Riel, the Métis and the Mounties)
74.How many Métis of the Red River were not consulted in 1869?
- A8,500
- B1,200
- C40,000
- D12,000
The 12,000 Métis of the Red River were not consulted when Canada took over the northwest. (Louis Riel, the Métis and the Mounties)
75.What happened to Louis Riel after the 1885 rebellion?
- AHe took his seat in Parliament
- BHe was exiled to the United States
- CHe was pardoned and became a premier
- DHe was put on trial and executed for high treason
A second rebellion in 1885 in present-day Saskatchewan led to Riel's trial and execution for high treason. (Louis Riel, the Métis and the Mounties)
76.Why is Riel seen by many as a hero?
- AAs a defender of Métis rights and the father of Manitoba
- BAs the founder of the North West Mounted Police
- CAs the architect of Confederation
- DAs Canada’s first French-Canadian prime minister
Riel is seen by many as a hero, a defender of Métis rights and the father of Manitoba. (Louis Riel, the Métis and the Mounties)
77.In which year was the North West Mounted Police established?
- A1869
- B1867
- C1873
- D1885
Prime Minister Macdonald established the North West Mounted Police in 1873. (Louis Riel, the Métis and the Mounties)
78.Which city became the headquarters of the North West Mounted Police?
- ARegina
- BCalgary
- CWinnipeg
- DOttawa
Regina became the headquarters of the North West Mounted Police. (Louis Riel, the Métis and the Mounties)
79.Who was the Métis’ greatest military leader?
- ALouis Riel
- BGabriel Dumont
- CJoseph Brant
- DSir Sam Steele
Gabriel Dumont was the Métis' greatest military leader. (Louis Riel, the Métis and the Mounties)
80.What did the Canadian Pacific Railway symbolise?
- AVictory in the War of 1812
- BUnity
- CThe end of the fur trade
- DIndependence from Britain
The Canadian Pacific Railway was a powerful symbol of unity. (The Canadian Pacific Railway and westward growth)
81.Who drove the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway?
- ASir Wilfrid Laurier
- BSir John A. Macdonald
- CDonald Smith, Lord Strathcona
- DSir Sandford Fleming
On November 7, 1885 Donald Smith, Lord Strathcona, drove the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway. (The Canadian Pacific Railway and westward growth)
82.On what date was the last spike driven?
- A11 January 1815
- B7 November 1885
- C9 April 1917
- D1 July 1867
On November 7, 1885 Donald Smith, Lord Strathcona, drove the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway. (The Canadian Pacific Railway and westward growth)
83.Why did British Columbia join Canada in 1871?
- AIt was purchased from the Hudson’s Bay Company
- BIt was granted responsible government
- CIt was ceded by the United States
- DOttawa promised to build a railway to the West Coast
Ottawa's promise of a railway to the West Coast brought British Columbia in during 1871. (The Canadian Pacific Railway and westward growth)
84.What was the Head Tax?
- AA tax on land granted to settlers in the West
- BA race-based entry fee charged to Chinese immigrants
- CA tax on freight carried by the railway
- DA levy paid by every new immigrant on arrival
Discrimination followed for Chinese railway workers, the Head Tax among it — a race-based entry fee. (The Canadian Pacific Railway and westward growth)
85.Who was the first French-Canadian prime minister since Confederation?
- ASir George-Étienne Cartier
- BSir Wilfrid Laurier
- CSir Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine
- DSir John A. Macdonald
Sir Wilfrid Laurier became the first French-Canadian prime minister since Confederation. (The Canadian Pacific Railway and westward growth)
86.On which bill does Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s portrait appear?
- AThe $10 bill
- BThe $100 bill
- CThe $20 bill
- DThe $5 bill
Sir Wilfrid Laurier's portrait is on the $5 bill. (The Canadian Pacific Railway and westward growth)
87.Which group settled the West in the largest numbers before 1914?
- A40,000 Loyalists
- B170,000 Ukrainians
- C8,500 French settlers
- D115,000 Poles
The railway made it possible for 170,000 Ukrainians, 115,000 Poles and tens of thousands from Germany, France, Norway and Sweden to settle in the West before 1914. (The Canadian Pacific Railway and westward growth)
88.How many Canadians served in the First World War?
- AMore than one million
- BMore than 600,000
- CMore than 6,000
- DMore than 60,000
More than 600,000 Canadians served in the First World War, most of them volunteers, out of a population of eight million. (The First World War)
89.Which ridge did the Canadian Corps capture in April 1917?
- AHill 70
- BJuno Beach
- CPasschendaele Ridge
- DVimy Ridge
The Canadian Corps captured Vimy Ridge in April 1917, with 10,000 killed or wounded. (The First World War)
90.Which date is celebrated as Vimy Day?
- A11 November
- B9 April
- C8 August
- D6 June
April 9 is celebrated as Vimy Day. (The First World War)
91.Who was Canada’s greatest soldier, commanding the Canadian Corps in 1918?
- ACaptain Billy Bishop
- BGeneral Sir Arthur Currie
- CSir Sam Steele
- DMajor-General Sir Isaac Brock
General Sir Arthur Currie was Canada's greatest soldier and commanded the Canadian Corps in 1918. (The First World War)
92.How many Canadians were killed in the First World War?
- A600,000
- B60,000
- C110,000
- D44,000
In total 60,000 Canadians were killed and 170,000 wounded in the First World War. (The First World War)
93.What did the Germans call the Battle of Amiens?
- AThe black day of the German Army
- BThe birth of a nation
- CThe turning point of the war
- DThe last hundred days
The Battle of Amiens on August 8, 1918 was called the black day of the German Army by the Germans. (The First World War)
94.On what date did the First World War end?
- A9 April 1917
- B8 August 1918
- C11 November 1918
- D8 May 1945
The First World War ended in the Armistice on November 11, 1918. (The First World War)
95.Which war did over 7,000 Canadians volunteer for between 1899 and 1902?
- AThe Korean War
- BThe South African War
- CThe First World War
- DThe Crimean War
Over 7,000 Canadians volunteered to fight in the South African War of 1899-1902, popularly known as the Boer War, and over 260 died. (The First World War)
96.What is the meaning of the Remembrance Day poppy?
- ATo celebrate Confederation and the birth of Canada
- BTo remember the sacrifice of Canadians who served or died in wars
- CTo mark the founding of the Canadian Forces
- DTo honour prime ministers of Canada who have died
Wearing the poppy remembers every Canadian who served or died in war, up to the present day. (Remembrance Day)
97.On what date is Remembrance Day observed?
- A1 July
- B9 April
- C11 November
- D6 June
Remembrance Day is observed each year on November 11. (Remembrance Day)
98.At what time do Canadians observe a moment of silence on Remembrance Day?
- AAt noon on Canada Day, the first of July
- BThe 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month
- CAt sunrise on 9 April, the anniversary of Vimy
- DAt sunset on 6 June, the anniversary of D-Day
Canadians wear the red poppy and observe a moment of silence at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. (Remembrance Day)
99.Who wrote the poem In Flanders Fields?
- ALieutenant-Colonel John McCrae
- BStephen Leacock, the humorist and economist
- CRobert W. Service, the poet of the Yukon
- DPauline Johnson, the Mohawk poet
Canadian medical officer Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae composed the poem In Flanders Fields in 1915. (Remembrance Day)
100.How many Canadians have given their lives in service?
- A60,000
- B44,000
- C600,000
- D110,000
Over a million brave men and women have served, and 110,000 have given their lives. (Remembrance Day)
Common questions
- How many questions are in the Canadian Citizenship Test?
- The real test is 20 multiple-choice questions with 45 minutes to answer them, and you need 15 correct to pass. This page lists 130 practice questions drawn from the same official material, which is far more than any single sitting will ask you.
- Are these the real Canadian Citizenship Test questions?
- No, and nobody has them. No government publishes its live exam questions. These are written from Discover Canada, the official study guide the real questions are drawn from, so the facts being tested are the same even though the wording is ours.
- Do I need an account to read the questions and answers?
- No. Every question, its correct answer and its explanation is on this page with no signup and no payment. An account only matters if you want your progress saved across devices.
- How should I use the question bank?
- Reading answers is the weakest form of revision. Sit a timed test first to find out which chapters you are losing marks on, then come back here and read only those. Recognition feels like knowledge and is not the same thing.