Final answer:
The 1879 national policy aimed to protect Canadian manufacturers through tariffs on imports and to unify Canada with infrastructure like rail lines.
Step-by-step explanation:
The goals of the national policy introduced in 1879 by Prime Minister John A. Macdonald were multifaceted. The primary objectives were to protect and promote Canadian manufacturers by placing tariffs on imported manufactured goods, and to unify the east and west of Canada, presumably through infrastructure such as a rail line. The policy imposed taxes on imports, with some as high as 20 percent, in order to help Canadian businesses grow and shield them from competition, particularly from U.S. companies. This measure aimed at fostering industrial growth within Canada while inversely maintaining high prices for goods in western provinces.