BC Joins Confederation Social Studies 10 & Sr. Transitional Prince of Wales Secondary Ms. Underwood

The Colony of British Columbia In 1866, the Colony of Vancouver Island and the Colony of British Columbia merged to become one. By 1870, was obvious that confederation with Canada would help to alleviate the debt incurred from the cost of building infrastructure during the gold rush.

Entering Confederation In 1870, when Manitoba entered Confederation, BC was an isolated colony on the West Coast. Geographically surrounded: The United States of America had bought Alaska (from the Russians) in 1867, hemming in BC to the north and the south. To the east were the Rocky Mountains.

American Expansion It was proposed by the Americans, that BC be given to them as a means of settling claims against Britain arising from the Civil War. Britain refused to give up the colony. Feelings of isolation and detachment were common amongst colonists, and the colony was still sparsely populated.

Amor de Cosmos Originally born William Smith, Amor de Cosmos was in favour of Confederation. Amor de Cosmos, who came to Victoria on 1858, was elected to the Vancouver Island assembly in1863 and became the Leader of the Opposition. By1869, the British government was taking an active role in encouraging BC toward union with Canada.

Negotiations In 1870, a delegation from BC went to Ottawa to negotiate terms and suggested that a wagon road be built from Lake Superior to the Pacific. Instead, George Étienne Cartier, surprisingly offered a railway. Within two years construction would begin and the rail was to be completed in ten years. Cartier also agreed to take over the colony's considerable debt of almost $1.5 million and provide an annual subsidy of $216,000. 

Aboriginal Claims With little regard for the claims of the Indian nations, British Columbia entered Confederation in 1871. During the 1860s, B.C. refused to recognize Indian land titles and often usurped Indian land and gave it to speculators and settlers. 

Confederation Achieved In 1871, Amor de Cosmos became Premier (2nd). Both the Colonial Office and the government of Canada encouraged confederation with Canada. On July 20th, 1871 BC became Canada’s 6th province. Now Canada was a nation that reached from sea to sea. Ahead was the monumental task of building a railway that ran across the continent.