Confederation Foreign Influences

American & British Influence American Threats (Civil War, Fenian Raids) Reciprocity Treaty Annexation British Changing Attitudes

Civil War During the Civil War Britain supported the South Keep cotton prices low Concern in Colonies of British North America that the U.S. would attack in retaliation Confederation Uniting would make the colonies stronger U.S. Would be much less likely to attack an independent nation

Fenian Raids Fenians 3 Raids in B.N.A Irish Catholics who had emigrated the U.S. Still held a grudge against Britain and wanted to fight against the British in whatever way they could 3 Raids in B.N.A New Brunswick (April 1866) Niagara (June 1866) Lake Champlain June 1866) Raids caused realization of how vulnerable the B.N.A. Colonies were

Reciprocity Treaty (1854) Enabled free trade of goods between B.N.A colonies and America Set to expire in 1866 Americans didn’t feel it benefited them Colonists worried about losing access to American markets Fear of negative affect on the economy Federal Union would encourage trade between provinces

Annexation America expanding to the west Oregon Treaty 1846 Strong belief of Americans it was their destiny to control all of North America Fear in B.N.A that U.S. Would annex land to the west of Canada and eventually all of the colonies Federal Union would enable western expansion Annex lands to the west

Changing British Attitudes Encouraged Confederation because Expensive to defend BNA colonies United BNA colonies could defend themselves Expensive to pay for governing of the colonies