Editing Liberal Party of Canada (section)

====Confederation====
At the time of [[Canadian Confederation|Confederation]] of the former British colonies of Canada (now [[Ontario]] and [[Quebec]]), [[New Brunswick]], and [[Nova Scotia]], the radical Liberals were marginalized by the more pragmatic [[Conservative Party of Canada (historical)|Conservative]] coalition assembled under Sir [[John A. Macdonald]]. In the 29 years after Confederation, the Liberals were consigned to opposition, with the exception of one stint in government.<ref name="hist"/> [[Alexander Mackenzie (politician)|Alexander Mackenzie]] was the ''de facto'' leader of the Official Opposition after Confederation and finally agreed to become the first official leader of the Liberal Party in 1873. He was able to lead the party to power for the first time in 1873, after the Macdonald government resigned over the [[Pacific Scandal]]. Mackenzie subsequently won the [[1874 Canadian federal election|1874 election]] and served as prime minister for an additional four years. During the five years the Liberal government brought in many reforms, including the replacement of open voting by [[secret ballot]], confining elections to one day and the creation of the [[Supreme Court of Canada]], the [[Royal Military College of Canada]], and the [[Auditor General of Canada|Office of the Auditor General]]; however, the party was only able to build a solid support base in Ontario and in [[1878 Canadian federal election|1878]] lost the government to Macdonald.<ref name="hist"/> The Liberals would spend the next 18 years in opposition.