How countries are formed is fascinating, instructive, and critical to their ongoing health -- witness the numerous references to the Federalist Papers and the Constitution in the recent Impeachment hearings. Canada is no exception -- the founding debates of 1864-73 held in six of the seven territories of British North America show politically and historically astute men forming a great nation. And their concerns are as contemporary as today's paper as Canada continues its search for unity and purpose.Canada's Founding Debates is not a transcript of all the debates but highlights the most interesting and salient arguments of the founders on the issues of liberty, opportunity, identity, and nationality. The editors respond to the issues, showing how significant they are today. In addition, the book reveals the positioning of the country a neither British nor American, but something fundamentally new and creative.