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Confederation in a Nutshell…
OK…prepare for a whirlwind tour of how the colonies of BNA became the country of Canada…Here we go!
Some politicians had the dream of Confederation (the union of colonies of BNA into a federation) since the days of Lord Durham.
Union would mean:
· Central government
· Control defense
· International relations (with Britain, the United States, etc.)
· Currency, postage, taxation
In Canada East (old Lower Canada) this idea was less popular. Remember the French wanted to maintain their culture and their language. Many French people weren’t even happy with The Act of Union of 1840 and joining Upper Canada.
The idea was also unpopular in the Maritime Provinces (PEI, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland). They felt they had little in common with the growing province of Canada.
The idea of creating a new nation however was a very alluring enterprise!
Pushes for Confederation:
1. War and Expansionism in the USA
o 1861 – 1865 America was embroiled in a Civil War over the issue of slavery
o North vs South, North wins
o Britain appeared to support the Southern states
o After winning, the United states had more men in the army then there were people in the British colonies
o Some Americans wanted to take over all of BNA, Manifest Destiny
2. Fenian Raids
o BNA colonies actually raided by Irish American troops after the Civil War
o Fenians were hostile towards the British (Britain controlled Ireland at the time)
o Canadians were killed, John A MacDonald asserted that a united country would be better able to defend its borders
3. Trouble with Trade
o British colonies had special trading relationship with the mother country
o Britain allowed wheat and flour from the colonies to enter its ports with a low tax
o Suddenly in 1846, these Corn Laws were repealed
o Caused the colonies economies to go into a depression
o The colonies signed a Reciprocity Treaty with the United States in an attempt to find another market for their goods
o During the 1860s the colonies feared this treaty would end.
o The last option would to have free trade amongst themselves, which would be much easier if the colonies were united.
4. Railway
o Trade requires a railway link
o 1850 BNA only had 106km of track
o The Grand Trunk Railway was the most ambitious. Linking Canada West to Halifax
o On the verge of bankruptcy, thought that the only way they could complete it was union of the colonies (shared expenses)
o Would also help with Defense!
5. Changing British Attitudes
o Some British people believed the colonies were a great burden to Britain
o Came at the same time when the colonies were being attacked by the Fenians
6. Political Deadlock
o In the colony of Canada in the 1860s, the government and the opposition were almost even in number, made it impossible to get anything done
o Upper and Lower Canada had equal number of seats in the new Legislative Assembly
o Representation by Population
o John A MacDonald’s government was defeated, instead of holding an election, George Brown, the leader of another political party, proposed a coalition
o He was tired of the deadlock, even if it meant cooperating with his old enemy
o Their goal – to unite all colonies of BNA into one country with separate provinces
The question of who would be responsible for what was very much a compromise? What would the federal government look after? What would the provinces look after? Everyone wanted something slightly different.
The 3 Conferences
Charlottetown Conference, 1864
o Originally about Maritime colonies becoming united
o The Great Coalition joins and convinces them Confederation might be a good idea
o Decided to meet at a conference in Quebec to plan the birth of a new nation
Quebec Conference, 1864
o Decided provinces should retain many powers
o Produced 72 Resolutions – blueprint for Confederation
Women and First Nations were absent from the conferences – families did accompany the Fathers of Confederation to the conferences however
In the end, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Canada decided to join together as one nation – needed to get permission from Britain
PEI and Newfoundland did not want to join, why not?
London Conference, 1866
o Delegates from the 3 colonies travelled to London
o Reviewed the 72 Resolutions, drafted the British North America Act
o Passed July 1, 1867, Canada Day, Canada split into Ontario and Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia