With the close of the War of 1812 there opened a new era in the history of Canada. Its people had realized that their country was worth fighting for, and they had defended it successfully. A new interest in its political life was awakened, new movements inaugurated. These were along three lines--one, political with responsible government as its object; another, religious with equal rights and privileges for all churches as its aim; a third, educational with equal and efficient instruction for all without distinction of class or creed as its purpose. The first movement is known as the struggle for Responsible Government--the struggle for equal political rights; the second, as the Secularization of the Clergy Reserves--the struggle for equal religious rights; the third as the University Question--the struggle for non-denominational control of education. In the second and third movements Dr. Ryerson played a very prominent part and, because these affected the politics of his day, he took a keen interest in the first. NOTE.--For purposes of reference, consult _The Story of My Life_ by Dr. Ryerson; _The Ryerson Memorial Volume_ by Dr. J.G. Hodgins; _Egerton Ryerson_ by Nathaniel Burwash in THE MAKERS OF CANADA; and _Egerton Ryerson_ by J.H. Putnam. THE INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY The lesson may be begun best by referring to the provisions in the British North America Act for the building of the railway. (If the class knows nothing yet of this Act, reference may be made to Dominion Day, and the Act associated with it, by explaining the significance of the Day. The date of Confederation, 1867, may be written on the board for reference.) In the B.N.A. Act, it was provided that "the Canadian Government should build a railway connecting the St. Lawrence with Halifax, to be commenced within six months after the Union." _Teacher._--Did you notice the two places that were to be connected by the road? _Pupil._--They were Halifax and the St. Lawrence River. _T._--Why do you think Halifax was chosen as one terminus? _P._--Because it is near the sea. _T._--Well, Quebec is not far from the sea either. _P._--It is the nearest port for ocean-going steamers. _T._--Do you know what happens to the St. Lawrence every winter? _P._--It freezes up. _T._--Yes. It is frozen over for about four months in the winter, and ocean-going vessels cannot use the river then, so Halifax was chosen as a good winter port on the Atlantic. Now, what place on the St. Lawrence would be chosen as the other terminus? _P._--Most likely either Quebec or Montreal.