In 1864, the future of British North America looked dark. Each of the colonies was struggling to survive. Some were almost broke. Others could not be governed. The United States was locked in civil war, but the North was bound to win. Would its army of two million soldiers attack British North America—and would Great Britain be able to help? There was one chance: could John A. Macdonald pull all the colonies together to form the Dominion of Canada—or would each separate colony face a dark future alone?