The Drive to Nationhood- Confederation & British North America Act Social Studies 10 Class Notes Mr. Bausback

 Impact of Act of Union, 1840  Lord Elgin's handling of the Rebellion Losses Bill  Effect of “double (house) majority” and “political deadlock”  Influence of the American Civil War and resentment towards Britain and her colonies 1. Important Factors Contributing to Confederation:

 Influence of the Irish American “Fenian Raids”  Effect of Britain's abandonment of the mercantile system- “free trade”  Threat of western expansion and US “manifest destiny”  The need for a trans-continental railway to foster trade and improve defenses 1. More Important Factors Contributing to Confederation:

Establishes responsible government in Canada Establishes responsible government in Canadaresponsible governmentresponsible government Invites Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine and Robert Baldwin to form a government Invites Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine and Robert Baldwin to form a governmentLouis-Hippolyte LafontaineRobert BaldwinLouis-Hippolyte LafontaineRobert Baldwin First Governor General to remove himself from the affairs of the legislature First Governor General to remove himself from the affairs of the legislature Allows passing of Rebellion Losses Bill (compensating French Canadians for losses suffered during the Rebellions of 1837) despite Tory opposition and rioting Allows passing of Rebellion Losses Bill (compensating French Canadians for losses suffered during the Rebellions of 1837) despite Tory opposition and riotingRebellion Losses BillRebellions of 1837Rebellion Losses BillRebellions of 1837 Negotiated the Reciprocity Treaty with the United States in an attempt to stimulate the Canadian economy Negotiated the Reciprocity Treaty with the United States in an attempt to stimulate the Canadian economyReciprocity TreatyUnited StatesReciprocity TreatyUnited States 2. Lord Elgin & His Efforts:

 Reciprocity = Free Trade  End to British mercantile system- no trade preference with colonies  British colonies in North America traded with Britain (lower or no trade taxes)  Britain enters free-trade period (lowest deal available, from any country)  British colonies in North America lost specialties, economy suffered 3. Reciprocity Treaty :

 Reciprocity Treaty signed between British North America and U.S. (resulted in free trade of natural goods between British North American colonies and U.S.)  British North American colonies got specialties (no trade tax) with U.S. trading  U.S. ended Reciprocity Treaty; they thought British colonies could keep trading amongst themselves without taxes and economic wealth would continue 3. Reciprocity Treaty :

 George Brown- huge supporter!  Number of elected members in Legislative Assembly depended on number of voters  Two West parties, Two East parties  East favored rights of “Canadiens” and bi-culturalism  West wanted ‘rep by pop’ for majority power  Before ‘rep by pop’, there was a political deadlock (equal power; laws couldn’t be passed)  West parties decided to form the Great Coalition (Brown-Cartier-Macdonald) (1864) with East parties (wanted federal union/Confederation) 4. Representation by Population:

 After American Civil War, Americans entered period of expansion westward, gathering land from Spain, Mexico, France and Great Britain- this was known as Manifest Destiny  Good farmland was difficult to get, and expansion westward would provide lots of settlement areas 5. Expansion of the United States- Manifest Destiny:

 Colonies realized if they could join together, they could arrive at western areas before Americans (concerned about expenses)  In 1866, the Fenians made armed raids across the border into the British North American colonies (could not attack Britain directly, had to settle for attacking their colonies instead) 5. Expansion of the United States- Manifest Destiny:

Manifest Destiny- Map of Expanding United States:

 Canada sensed that U.S.A wanted to expand into it  U.S.A wanted to join with British Columbia by building expensive railroad  John A. McDonald decided to create federal union  He united Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Province of Canada (Quebec & Ontario) in 1867  Newfoundland and P.E.I rejected union (afraid of losing control of local affairs) 6. Towards Confederation:

 New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland  Serious problems: scarce industrial development  Scarce population growth - residents forced to move elsewhere  Trade problem (U.S. planned to end Reciprocity Treaty)  Less demand for goods from Atlantic colonies  Threat of American expansion, Atlantic Colonies wanted to be stronger, they banded together  Conference of Charlottetown was held in 1864 to discuss the possible union of the Atlantic Colonies 7. The Atlantic Colonies:

 September 1, union of the Atlantic Colonies  Newfoundland did not attend  Province of Canada tried convincing Atlantic colonies to join larger union  The Fathers of Confederation attended  Province of Canada promised to make railroad connecting Atlantic Colonies and Canada  Second meeting in Quebec, Atlantic Colonies & Charlottetown Conference -1864: 7. Atlantic Colonies & Charlottetown Conference -1864:

8. Who Were the Fathers of Confederation?  Represented the British North American colonies more than once in confederation  Conferences in Charlottetown, 1864; Quebec, 1866; and London, 1866  The people were: John A. Macdonald; George Brown; George-Etienne Cartier, Alexander Tilloch Galt, Charles Tupper, Thomas D'Arcy McGee, Hector- Louis Langevin

8. Who Were the Fathers of Confederation?

 George Etienne Cartier- Parti Blue; C. East; Conservative; Promote traditions & French Culture  Louis-Joseph Papineau- Parti Rouge; C. East; Reformer; Promote French interests, lower classes, working with C. West  John A. Macdonald- Tory; C. West; Conservative; Pro Britain, industry, & commerce  George Brown- Clear Grits; Liberal; “Rep by pop”, pro-Canadian, and anti-French 9. Political Leaders & Views:

9. Political Leaders:

 Job of delegates at Quebec conference: convincing Anti- Confederates to join Confederation  For the 72 resolutions to be passed, had to be approved by the Colonial assemblies in Province of Canada at the Quebec Conference, 1866  In Atlantic Colonies  New Brunswick and Nova Scotia voted against idea of Confederation  Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland rejected idea of Confederation  People in Nova Scotia close to railway: interested in Confederation  London Conference: Sixteen Delegates from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia presented the Seventy-two Resolutions 10. Quebec Conference, 1866:

 Created as a result of the London Conference, 1866  Constitution Act of 1867 occurred on March 29 th (constitutions are rules that govern a country)  Purpose: Union of Canada (Nova Scotia and New Brunswick)  Canada was divided up into 4 divisions: Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, & New Brumswick  Formerly called BNA act (British North America Act)  Act outlined the Distribution of Powers between central parliament and the provincial legislatures  Canada’s constitution was written and unwritten, U.S. constitution: written, Britain’s constitution: unwritten 11. London Conference BNA- 1867:

 Wide spread opposition to idea of Confederation in Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland  July joined Confederation - Newfoundland on 1949  Canadian government gave Prince Edward Island $80,000 for joining confederation  Little in common with people of Canada  Drop in prices of fish, seal oil, - faced bankruptcy  Business community and Roman Catholic Church: Anti-Confederates 12. Completing Confederation- PEI & Newfoundland:

 Louis Riel led Metis Rebellions of at red River Colony (Winnipeg)  Allowed Manitoba to join Confederation in 1870  Canada's 5 th “Postage Stamp” province  BC Cariboo Gold Rush debt in 1860's  Need for a inter-colonial railway to connect the BC with East to trade  Led to British Columbia's entry to confederation in 1871  Canada's 6 th province 12. Completing Confederation- Manitoba & British Columbia:

 Second Metis rebellion in 1885 in Northwest Territories  Problems with native rights and problems policing a “wild west” during Whiskey trade  Forced Ottawa to invite Alberta & Saskatchewan join Canada in 1905  Canada's 7 th & 8 th provinces 12. Completing Confederation- Alberta & Saskatchewan:

 Born January 10 th, 1815 in Glasgow, Scotland  Died June 6 th 1891  Had severe stroke 1 week before his death (couldn’t talk due to stroke)  Brought four western provinces into confederation (Manitoba, B.C., Saskatchewan, Alberta)  Was 1 st Prime Minister of Canada  Started off a very poor lawyer, then climbed up to be Prime Minister of Canada 13. Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada’s First Prime Minister:

 British North America Act (BNA act)  Created Dominion of Canada in 1867  Stated the powers of provincial and federal governments  Outlined the way in which government would be structured  Guaranteed protection of some minority groups  Goal was to create federal union or confederation of colonies of British North America 14. British North America Act and Canada’s System of Federalism:

 Stands for: British North America Act  Patriated from Britain in 1982  Main written constitution from  Won independence in 1931, but still required British approval  Got total independence because of changes made to BNA Act  British North America Act renamed: Constitution Act of When Did Canada Finally Do Away With the BNA Act?

 1. The raising of Money by any Mode or System of Taxation.  2. Postal Service.  3. The Census and Statistics.  4. Militia, Military and Naval Service, and Defence.  5. Navigation and Shipping.  6. Currency and Coinage, Banking, Incorporation of Banks, and the Issue of Paper Money.  7. Weights and Measures.  8. Indians, and Lands reserved for the Indians.  9. Naturalization and Aliens.  10. Marriage and Divorce.  11. The Criminal Law, except the Constitution of Courts of Criminal Jurisdiction, but including the Procedure in Criminal Matters. 16. Power- BNA Federal Powers- Section 91:

 1. Direct Taxation within the Province  2. The Management and Sale of the Public Lands  3. The Establishment, Maintenance, and Management Prisons, Hospitals, Asylums, Charities,  4. Municipal Institutions in the Province.  5. Shop Licences  6. Local Works- roads, highways, ferries  7. Property and Civil Rights in the Province.  8. Administration of justice, courts, fines, penalties & imprisonment  9. Education  10. Healthcare 16. Powers- BNA Provincial Powers- Section 92:

17. BNA Map:

18. BNA Government Diagram:

Responsible Government Diagram:

The End!