The New Nation covers the time from Confederation to 1896. It describes the life and times of Sir John A. Macdonald and the events leading up to Confederation and the BNA Act. During Macdonald's tenure, Manitoba, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island joined the four original provinces, land was set aside for national parks, the North West Mounted Police force was established and the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed. Other topics in the book include Aboriginal and Métis issues, the Riel Rebellion and the placement of tariffs on imported goods. The remainder of the book is devoted to the contributions of Alexander Mackenzie, Charles Tupper and John Thompson, some of which include the establishment of the Supreme Court of Canada, the introduction of the secret ballot and door-to-door mail delivery, and the creation of the Criminal Code.

Includes index.