Toward Confederation 1839-1867 By: Abby Davidson

Lord Durham Governor General and high commissioner of British North America Investigate the lower Canada Rebellion and the upper Canada Rebellion 2 Assignments Govern Canada Set up an inquiry into the causes of the rebellions Only hired people from his own staff not anyone from upper or lower Canada

Lord Durham Continued Durham's first challenge was what to do with over 150 prisoners in lower Canada. He exiled nine of them and pardoned 141 of them on Queen victoria's coronation day. He didn’t have the authority to do that so the government disallowed it and Durham felt he had to resign and return to England. He was only in Canada for 5 months.

Durham’s Report In 1839 Durham presented a report to the British government that gave them suggestions and was an analyse of everything he saw in Canada. He suggested major changes in the political and constitutional systems in Canadian colonies. He found that there were two fundamental sources of discontent in upper and lower Canada. Friction between appointed legislative assemblies and the elected legislative. “two nations warring at the bosom of a single state.”

Act of Union Passed by British parliament in 1840 and proclaimed in 1841. The Act of Union was the uniting of upper and lower Canada. This brought further conflict between the French and English. What were two different colonies became Canada and was designated by East Canada and West Canada. One governor, one elective assembly and one designated language (English). Act of union was suggested by Lord Durham in the Lord Durham’s report

LaFontaine LaFontaine was one of the few reform political leaders left in Canada after the failed rebellion in lower Canada. They didn’t want to give up their French culture and identity. They didn’t have any interest in getting English culture and English identity. LaFontaine and other French Canadians were prevented from voting by English conservatives.

Railroads The railroads created a flow that will in the end help to grow urban centers. They also help to open up new settlement opportunities. Grand Trunk Railroads Almost bankrupt the united Canada. most of the money for this railroad was raised in England. employed 14000 workers and took 2000 horses. All of the railroads built would employ many many people over the years. The first railroad built in Canada was the Champlain and St. Lawrence railways. This went from La Prairie on the St. Lawrence River to St. Johns on the Richelieu River.

Railroads Grand Trunk Railways Champlain and St. Lawrence railways. Canadian Pacific Railway passenger car

Charlottetown Conference The Charlottetown Conference was in September 1864. This conference came to be because the lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia, Arthur Gordon, wanted to meet with the governors and the appointed exclusive council. They wanted to discuss the possibility of a union of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. Tupper insisted that they bring the leaders of the opposition. This was a smart move because it means that they could not complain to the electorate that they could do better.

Charlottetown Conference Continued Canadians from Canada west and Canada East also attended conference. Macdonald said that the American civil war was a threat and they would be better able to defend themselves if they were united. At the end of the summer they did not work anything out but they came to an agreement that uniting would benefit everyone.

Quebec Conference The Quebec Conference was in October of 1864. They had 33 delegates there including 2 from Newfoundland. Many of the delegates had business interests in banking, timber, land and railways. There was new urgency because of the St. Albans raid 9 days before. Using the idea of a federation, politicians began to create a constitution for a new nation.

Quebec Conference Continued They all agreed that ties with the British would be kept. Also they all agreed that it would be a federation so there would be levels of government. There would also be a house of commons and a senate. There was also disagreement about how power should be shared between levels of government. They made many compromises and created a government that could meet and hope, to expand their interests. This government was conservative.

Population of British North America The population of all the colonies got significantly larger over the years of 1851-1871

John A. MacDonald Canadian politician, statesman and Father of confederation. Elected to the House of Assembly in united Canada, Minister of several Governments, Elected to the house of Commons in 1867 and re-elected until his death in 1891. he was the Prime Minister of Canada. He was the leader of the conservative party and decided to join the coalition who’s final goal was confederation. He was the political leader of British North America He was never a supporter of federalism but was a supporter of a legislative union Macdonald and the coalition played a key role in the confederation of British North America in 1867, which brought together four new provinces, Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. This made up the Dominion of Canada.

George-Étienne Cartier Urbane, sophisticated French-Canadian lawyer. He was a co-premier of Canada Comfortable in French or English. Also with merchants, politicians and clergymen. He was a rebel in the Parti Patriote. He fled to the US then after pledging his allegiance to the British crown he could come back to Montreal. Cartier and his supporters from lower Canada aligned themselves with John A. Macdonald and his supporters from upper Canada. Cartier’s goal was to ensure that Canada was to be a federation of provinces rather than a single legislative union like Britain.

Changes in Government in Canada

Corn Law Trade System The corn law was basically a tax system in Britain. Grains that were coming from British colonies didn’t have a high tax rate. Grains coming from different countries had a higher tax rate. Canadian farmers came to depend on Britain for their market of wheat and grains. The British revoking the corn laws hit Canada hard. Canada and the US signed a Reciprocity treaty because the US trade taxes were lower than the British. After signing the Reciprocity treaty the Canadians saw themselves differently. They saw that they were not confined to the British.

Challenges in confederation Six months after the Quebec conference, confederation was at a stand still. French Canadians were divided and every one of the Atlantic provinces were either in opposition or indifferent to confederation. After the US cancelled the Reciprocity Treaty New Brunswick did not have much of a choice about confederation. After New Brunswick voted in favour of confederation Nova Scotia had a change of heart and voted in favour also. Prince Edward Island’s absentee landlord issue prevented approval to join. Prince Edward Island’s absentee landlord issue was where PEI was doing a lottery for 67 plots of land and only for supporters of King George III. The land owners rarely met the terms and conditions of owning the land. Delegates wanted the crown to take their land but the crown always refused. Then at the Quebec conference the delegates proposed a fund to purchase landlords' holdings if the Island joined Confederation. This was rejected. They would not join then.

Question #1 Just by reading this part of the Durham’s Report what kind union do you think that Lord Durham has leaning towards? Why?

Question #2 What do you think would have happened with Canada over time if The corn laws stayed in place? Why?

Question #3 What do you think that the citizens of the province of Canada first thought about it becoming their own confederation? Why?

Bibliography “Lord Durham's Report.” Lord Durham's Report, 1839, web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/lawdemo/webread/durham.htm Monet, S.J. Jacques. “Act of Union.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/act-of-union/. Marsh, James H. “Railway History.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/railway-history/ “Quebec Conference.” The Quebec Conference, October 1864, www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/politics/quebec-conference-1864.php. Sweeny, Alastair. "Sir George-Étienne Cartier." The Canadian Encyclopedia. Accessed October 28, 2017. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-george- etienne-cartier/ "Quebec History." And Canadian Federalism - Studies on the Canadian Constitution and Canadian Federalism - Quebec History. Accessed October 28, 2017. http://faculty.marianopolis.edu/c.belanger/quebechistory/federal /johna.htm

Bibliography Continued Johnson, J.K. "Sir John A. Macdonald." The Canadian Encyclopedia. Accessed October 28, 2017. http://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir- john-alexander-macdonald/.