Section 5

1. American Civil War ( ) The Civil War was a conflict of armies and ideals. The armies of the North (Union) fought against the South (Confederacy). The war broke out because southern states like Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, etc. resented interference in their affairs by the northern states. The main source of tension between the two sides was the issue of slavery and incorporating new states in to the union. Northern states did not want new states to practice slavery. Southern states wanted new states to have the option. A compromise was reached: slavery was allowed in new states below the so-called Mason-Dixon Line.

The South was concerned the North was stacking the odds in favor of eventually abolishing slavery altogether. So the South rebelled in an attempt to maintain their economic and political systems which heavily depended upon slavery.

The elite of Britain supported the South while the common people in England supported the North. The South actually counted on getting direct support from either France or Britain in order to achieve independence. Britain did not intervene on the side of the South; however, the Trent Affair nearly brought England and the North in to a state of war. The North, consequently, turned its gaze northward to Canada as a potential target to direct its armies following the end of the Civil War.

The Trent Affair The USS San Jacinto (a Union ship) intercepted a British vessel called the RMS Trent. The Jacinto seized two Confederate diplomats sailing on the Trent bound for England and France. The British government demanded an apology for this insult to their honor. Britain took steps to strengthen its military forces on Canada. President Abraham Lincoln did not want to risk war so he released the two diplomats. The Confederacy failed in their efforts to gain British financial and military support.

Influence of the Civil War on Canada The various colonies of British North America were encouraged by Britain to form in to a single country. England hoped their North American colonies would be able to protect themselves better if they confederated. Confederation is the union of political units for common action in relation to other groups. Confederation is usually achieved initially through a treaty but later through the adoption of a shared constitution.

2. The End of Reciprocity Between British North America and the United States had a free trade agreement called the Canadian-American Reciprocity Treaty. This agreement allowed for the free flow of goods and services over the shared border. Britain’s support of the South during the Civil War influenced the American decision to end reciprocity. The end of the treaty meant factories in Canada were suddenly cut off from American markets. This hurt the economy of the British North American colonies; therefore, England encouraged these colonies to increase east-west trade between the various British colonies.

The Canadian Solution to the End of Reciprocity When the colonies of British North America joined together the economy changed from a north- south economy to an east-west one. This meant there were more opportunities inside Canada to make money, access markets, grow the economy, etc. Canada also depended heavily upon trade with Great Britain. Colonial tariffs (or trade walls) between the different British colonies were lifted creating new markets for Canadian factories to sell their goods.

3. American Expansionism Policy makers in the United States were influenced by the idea of “Manifest Destiny,” e.g. All of North America was destined to be directly controlled by the United States. Britain feared the Americans would expand in to Rupert’s Land if it remained a simple territory owned/operated by the Hudson’s Bay Company.

Canadian Solution to American Expansionism Confederation resulted in the eventual incorporation of the West (Rupert’s Land and British Columbia) in to Canada. The Canadian Government established the Northwest Mounted Police to administer justice and be a military presence in the West. The “Mounties” maintained law and order in the territories and prevented Americans from gaining too much influence in the sparsely populated West.