British Dominions Modern World History

The Dominions As Great Britain moved toward democracy, the British Empire reached its height. Great Britain was the richest and most powerful country in the world. Many of its colonies wanted to govern themselves.

Canada Canada was made up of a number of British colonies. The population was divided. It was made up of French, immigrant British, and loyalists, or Americans who supported Britain during the American Revolution. The French resisted British rule and clashed with the British living in Quebec. The Constitutional Act of 1791 divided Quebec into two parts. Upper Canada was mainly English while Lower Canada remained French-speaking.

Canada, cont. By the late 1830s, rebellions occurred in both colonies. French felt threatened by the English minority in Lower Canada. Political disagreements in Upper Canada led to uprisings. Parliament sent Lord Durham to Canada to investigate the problems. Durham urged Parliament to grant Canada self-government (Lord Durham’s Report). In 1867, the British North America Act established Canada as a dominion, or self governing territory owing allegiance to the British government.

Canada, cont. The British North America Act became the basis for the modern nation of Canada. It joined Upper Canada (Ontario), Lower Canada (Quebec), Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. In 1869, Canada acquired the Northwest Territory. It was populated by fur traders and Native Americans. Canada continued to expand in the late 1800s. Manitoba was formed in 1870. British Columbia became a province in 1871 and Canada acquired Prince Edward Island in 1873. The Canadian Pacific Railroad was completed in 1885 to link eastern and western provinces.

In 1905, Saskatchewan and Alberta joined the Dominion of Canada.

Australia and New Zealand British Colonies Australia and New Zealand also sought self government. In 1788, Australia was established as a penal colony to relieve overcrowded jails following the loss of Georgia. Europeans began to settle Australia when gold was discovered there in the 1850s. Europeans came into contact with the Aborigines, or original people of Australia. The Europeans treated them poorly, taking their land and killing them. By the late 1800s, Australia was made up of 6 colonies. In 1901, Parliament made Australia a dominion.

New Zealand Foreigners brought problems to the original inhabitants of New Zealand, the Maori. Firearms increased warfare among Maori tribes and diseases wiped out half of their population. The Treaty of Waitangi protected Maori rights while it gave the British sovereignty over New Zealand. Gold was also discovered in New Zealand, leading to more European settlers. Many gold prospectors remained in New Zealand. They became farmers and violated Maori rights by taking their land. In the 1890s New Zealand carried out social reforms. In 1907, New Zealand became a dominion.