When did Nova Scotia attain full responsible government?

Discover Canada records this in one direct sentence. The guide writes: The first British North American colony to attain full responsible government was Nova Scotia in 1847–48. In 1848–49 the governor of United Canada, Lord Elgin, with encouragement from London, introduced responsible government. This is the system that we have today: if the government loses a confidence vote in the assembly it must resign. The years the test wants are therefore 1847–48.

Nova Scotia was the first colony with full responsible government. Discover Canada's phrase "the first British North American colony" commits Nova Scotia's primacy: the province broke ground in 1847–48, with United Canada following in 1848–49. So Nova Scotia was the leader in establishing the modern Canadian system of cabinet accountability.

Responsible government is the system Canada uses today. Discover Canada writes that "this is the system that we have today: if the government loses a confidence vote in the assembly it must resign." So responsible government means the executive (the Prime Minister and Cabinet) must hold the confidence of the elected assembly — a foundational principle of Canadian parliamentary democracy. The 1847–48 Nova Scotia milestone established this principle as British North American practice.

La Fontaine led the next responsible-government step. Discover Canada writes that "La Fontaine, a champion of democracy and French language rights, became the first leader of a responsible" government in United Canada in 1848–49. So the 1847–48 Nova Scotia start was followed quickly by United Canada (Ontario and Quebec combined at the time), under Lord Elgin's administration with London's support. Together, these two colonies pioneered the responsible-government model that became universal across Canada and remains the operating principle of Canadian government today.

The question is testing whether new citizens know when Nova Scotia attained full responsible government. Discover Canada commits to one date range: 1847–48. The right test answer matches that.

The wrong answer choices each pick a different year range. 1837-38 is too early — the Reformers' rebellions occurred then, but did not yet bring full responsible government. 1840-41 is also too early. 1850-51 is too late. Only 1847-48 — the actual Nova Scotia milestone — matches.