While the British had their hands full with Napoleon, then Spain, and then the rebellious American colonists, Canada remained largely an afterthought. Only after the Revolutionary War, which brought a lot of loyalists into British Canada, did serious discussions begin on uniting the country. And despite opposition about the centralization of rule in Ottawa, and concerns that the powers between the central government and the unclear division of power between it and provinces, Queen Victoria approved the new dominion with her royal assent

On this day, March 29, in 1867, with the Queen’s blessing and under the auspices of the British North America Act, the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are joined together as the Dominion of Canada.

Britain did not leave its young creation totally on its own. A provision inserted into the constitution gave Britain the final say in any changes to the document. Only a century later, in 1982, did Canada gain the power to change its constitution. All provinces signed the repatriation agreement, except the notably pro-British Quebec.