INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL FACTORS LEADING TO CONFEDERATION Confederation

INTERNAL & EXTERNAL FACTORS Internal Factors  Factors occurring in BNA  1. Repeal of the Corn Laws  2. Political Deadlock  3. The Railway External Factors  Factors occurring outside of BNA  1. Manifest Destiny  2. The Trent Affair  3. The Chesapeake Incident  4. The St. Alban’s Raid  5. The Fenian Raids  6. End of Reciprocity

Internal Factor #1 – Repeal of the Corn Laws The Corn Laws were British laws which set customs duties on wheat and other cereal grains imported into Britain  This ensured that Britain would get their ‘corn’ from British colonies British colonies (Upper & Lower Canada) were being charged far less import duty than grain growers who were not a part of the British Empire In 1846, Britain repealed (cancelled) the Corn Laws and moved towards free trade  This caused Canadian farmers to lose their trading terms and price advantage over American producers and the American producers took a larger share of the British market

Internal Factor #2 – Political Deadlock Canada West Liberal-Conservative Party (Tories) John A. Macdonald VS Clear Grits (Reform Party) George Brown Canada East Le Parti Bleu (Conservatives) George-Etienne Cartier VS Le Parti Rouge (Reform Party) Antoine-Aime Dorion

Internal Factor #2 – Political Deadlock Political Deadlock is a situation where progress cannot be made because the parties involved do not agree  Canada East (French) vs. Canada West (English)  The 2 issues that created this deadlock were:  Transportation  Representation

Internal Factor #2 – Political Deadlock Transportation  Canada West wanted to expand transportation facilities to increase trade and wealth; they were willing to spend government money to do so.  Canada East did not want to change their existing way of life; they felt that better links with Canada West would threaten their identity and they resisted attempts to spend tax money on transportation improvements. Representation  Canada West supported Representation by Population  Canada East wanted to retain equal representation  Disagreements about these two issues led to a coalition between MacDonald, Cartier, and Brown  Coalition is - a temporary joining together of two or more political parties  The determination of the Canadian leaders to change the government was the spark that put Confederation into motion.  Representation by Population was agreed upon

Internal Factor #3 – The Railway Canada West, Canada East, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick had their own railway but they were not all connected. The railway was needed to increase trade and move troops more quickly in case of war. The railway would increase communication (quicker movement of mail) and increase business. An INTERCOLONIAL railway would overcome problems: mountains and freezing of St. Lawrence. Due to financial trouble the building came to a halt and politicians dreamed to connect Canada from sea to sea. Confederation was needed to build this railway.

Internal Factor #3 – The Railway Did You Know? ioneers9_e.html#chinese ioneers9_e.html#chinese