Debating Confederation

Today in class we re-enacted the Charlottetown Conference, with the students playing the roles of the Father's of Confederation. We debated issues such as defence, building a railway, provision of a subsidy for the Maritime colonies and Confederation. I was so proud of the effort so many students went through - dressing in shirts and ties, making top hats out of construction paper and reading eloquent speeches about the threat of Fenian invasion and the need for increased trade between the colonies. Many students in both of my History classes come to English as a second language, but that did deter them from participating. As the chair of the meeting, I could barely keep up with the demands to get their names on the speaker's list. We will continue the debates tomorrow. Will we decide to come together to create a new nation from six diverse British colonies? I can't wait to hear the results...