What were the two most difficult problems John A. MacDonald had to face?

Sir John A. Macdonald was Canada's first Prime Minister. This in itself was a challenge, since Canada was trying to make the transition from a British colony to having some identity of its own as a nation. Since Macdonald was appointed to this position by the British, he had to walk a fine line between being an independent leader and maintaining a courteous relationship with England. While serving as Prime Minister, he had to deal with a scandal over corruption in the Canadian Pacific Railway. He also had to persuade the leaders and residents of the various provinces to get along with each other and work together as Canadians, rather than only thinking of their particular province. And he had to negotiate with the United States over such issues as fishing rights.

Repeatedly during his time as Prime Minister, he faced a number of political opponents, who disagreed with his leadership or disliked some of policies. But Macdonald endured and kept winning re-election, serving for nearly nineteen years. By the time of his death in 1891, the Confederation of Canada had expanded into new territories, and it had truly become a nation in its own right.