Why did John A. Macdonald want to create numbered treaties between First Nations people and Canada?

• A. To avoid wars between First Nations and Canada, like the ones that were happening in the States, costing millions of dollars
• B. To grant citizenship to First Nations
• C. To promote trade agreements
• D. To create shared governance

Answer: (A)

The main idea behind numbered treaties was to manage westward expansion by making a peaceful, predictable deal with Indigenous nations. John A. Macdonald saw these treaties as a way to prevent costly frontier wars and military conflicts that could follow from rapid settlement, like the clashes that occurred in the United States. By negotiating formal agreements, the Crown could extinguish Indigenous land title in exchange for reserves, money, and guaranteed rights, creating a controlled process for land transfer and settlement while reducing the risk of expensive warfare and instability.

That’s why this option is the best fit: it captures the practical aim of avoiding costly conflict and ensuring orderly expansion. The other options don’t fit as well because the treaties were not primarily about granting citizenship, establishing broader trade agreements, or creating shared governance; they were about land, settlement, and creating a predictable, safer path for Canada’s growth.