Which infrastructure project was promised to PEI as part of the 1873 Confederation terms?

• A. Establish year-round steamboat service
• B. Build a railway
• C. Create a nationwide highway system
• D. Construct a large seaport in Halifax

Answer: (B)

The main idea being tested is what PEI was promised to secure its entry into Confederation in 1873: a railway link to the mainland. Ottawa agreed to assume the island’s railway debt and to finance the construction of a line that would connect Prince Edward Island to New Brunswick and the broader Canadian rail network. This would end isolation by giving PEI a direct rail connection to the rest of the country, making Confederation more attractive and financially workable for the island. The other options don’t fit the historical terms because the pledge focused on building a railway to link the island with the mainland, not on establishing a year-round steamboat service, a nationwide highway system, or a seaport in Halifax.