The Road to Confederation

1850 – 1867: Road to Canadian Confederation There were a number of issues affecting the British North American colonies, from within and beyond the colonies borders. Factors of Leading to Confederation Fear of Annexation (USA) Trade Barriers & Reciprocity Changing British Attitudes Transportation (Railways) Fenian Raids Political Deadlock City of Ottawa, Canada West – ca. 1859 Starting in the 1850s calls for a federal union of all British colonies in North America began to get stronger. It was seen by many as a way to strengthen the colonies and to deal with the many problems that had arisen since the Act of Union in 1840.

John A. Macdonald Sir John A. was: the first prime minister of Canada and the dominant figure of Canadian Confederation. he received and deserves much of the credit for forming the new nation he was a skilled orator and debater he was a conservative he was a raging alcoholic too

Fear of Annexation Manifest Destiny – US belief that it is their God given right to rule all of North America American Civil War – 1860-1865 Past American wars resulted in invasion of Canada and a united nation would serve as a better defense Britain supports the south (who lost) Fenian Raids (1866) Irish Catholics in US were committed to freeing Ireland from British rule Canada was closest way to get to Britain The raids failed but drew attention to the need to defend the border

Expensive Railways Transportation – Railways Railways were needed to build links between colonies for trade Financing the railways was expensive and needed to be shared amongst the colonies The Grand Trunk Railway joins Montreal and Toronto but a cost of - $72 million Q. How do railways change society? Q. Where do people want to go?

Trade Barriers & Reciprocity Reciprocity = Free Trade 1854 – Lord Elgin negotiates an agreement with US 1866 – Reciprocity Agreement ends – economy struggles – DEPRESSION Interprovincial trade is encouraged but “barriers” exist between colonies - Transportation - Tariffs (tax on imports)

Changing British Attitudes Sun never sets on the British Empire Colonies are expensive to run Defending colonies more expensive Mother country can’t always solve its colonies issues Br. Government supports idea of confederation Because English Canadians are first and foremost British loyalists, they find England’s support for confederation agreeable. In turn, they support it too (must be good, the Queen thinks it is….) Q. How do French Canadiens feel now and in the past?

The Canadian Federation The Great Coalition –Brown, Liberal leader of Canada West, and Macdonald and Cartier, Conservative leaders of Canada West and East. United together in a coalition government to end ministerial instability by uniting all the BNA colonies and forming a new country. Delegates from the colonies met at three conferences between 1864-1866 (Charlottetown, Québec City, and London) to discuss what form the union would take.

Charlottetown Conference – September 1st,1864

Main Purpose: to persuade the Atlantic colonies to join Canada Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick arranged to meet on September 1, 1864. Discuss idea of uniting the Atlantic colonies Newfoundland decided not to attend Province of Canada wanted to attend to state reasons for a British North American union. John A. Macdonald, George Brown, George-Etienne Cartier, Alexander Galt, Thomas D’Arcy McGee. Province of Canada promised to build a railway connecting the Atlantic colonies with Canada.

The idea of Confederation gained support. An agreement was made to meet in Quebec a month later.

Quebec Conference – October 10-27, 1864

Main Purpose: to decide what powers the federal and provincial governments should have Meeting was held in Quebec City Participants: Province of Canada, Atlantic colonies (including Newfoundland) Key issues discussed: operation and powers of new federal government, provincial powers, protection of French language and culture. Aboriginal interests were likely left out. Result of the conference: Seventy-Two Resolutions New nation would be built upon these resolutions

In the Atlantic Colonies: Many people were opposed to the Seventy-Two Resolutions They felt that they were better on their own and had little in common with the Province of Canada

New Brunswick Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley: Represented New Brunswick at the Charlottetown and Quebec conferences His pro-Confederation government lost the election in 1865. People in New Brunswick were afraid that they would lose control over their colony With pressure from the lieutenant-governor, he was re-elected in 1866 and voted for Confederation

Nova Scotia Charles Tupper: Represented Nova Scotia at the Charlottetown and Quebec conferences After observing what happened to pro-Confederation candidates in New Brunswick, he decided not to hold an election until Joseph Howe (anti-Confederation) lost some of his support. Pro-Confederation Nova Scotians wanted a railway link to the Province of Canada

Joseph Howe: Led the anti-Confederation movement in Nova Scotia Was concerned about the amount of influence Nova Scotia would have in Confederation Worried about higher taxes to pay for the railway

Prince Edward Island Widely opposed to Confederation Concerned that they would have very little power and influence in Confederation Were heavily dependent on trade duties from other colonies Saw little to no benefit to joining.

Newfoundland Not interested in Confederation Felt that they had little in common with the Province of Canada

London Conference – confirming the creation of Canada as a British Dominion

The Canadian federation (cont) July 1, 1867, the BNA Act took effect. Canada became a British dominion and a constitutional monarchy, and adopted a parliamentary system. The constitution divided powers between the federal and provincial levels of government Federal powers = military, foreign policy, etc. Provincial powers = education, health care, etc.