1. So Why Confederation? Thursday, February 17, 2005

2. Colony of British Columbia First Nations First Nations Fishing, canoes, lived on Northern Coast Fishing, canoes, lived on Northern Coast Fur Traders Fur Traders HBC, NWC HBC, NWC Gold Rush along Fraser River attracted Americans Gold Rush along Fraser River attracted Americans

3. Rupert’s Land First Nations First Nations Their land, skilled hunters, lived off surroundings Their land, skilled hunters, lived off surroundings Red River Settlement Red River Settlement Scottish and British settlers had to rely on help of First Nations to survive Scottish and British settlers had to rely on help of First Nations to survive Conflict Conflict Metis and other First Nations upset over influx of settlers on their land Metis and other First Nations upset over influx of settlers on their land

4. Canada West Majority of British descent Majority of British descent Haven for Underground Railroad Haven for Underground Railroad Farm and forestry main industries Farm and forestry main industries Mills to process raw materials Mills to process raw materials Railway from Sarnia to Riviere-du- Loup Railway from Sarnia to Riviere-du- Loup Ships travel St. Lawernce River and Great Lakes Ships travel St. Lawernce River and Great Lakes

5. Canada East French majority, some British and Irish French majority, some British and Irish Farm and forestry main industries Farm and forestry main industries Industrial development Industrial development Railway couldn’t build further due to lack of funds Railway couldn’t build further due to lack of funds

6. New Brunswick French, American Loyalists, British French, American Loyalists, British Forestry and Fishing primary industries Forestry and Fishing primary industries Farming and ship building important Farming and ship building important Trading done via Ports with US and Europe year round Trading done via Ports with US and Europe year round

7. Nova Scotia First Nations, French, majority British of Scottish heritage First Nations, French, majority British of Scottish heritage Fishing and coal mining primary industries Fishing and coal mining primary industries Ship building and service industry important Ship building and service industry important Ports busy year round Ports busy year round Very little trade with other BNA colonies Very little trade with other BNA colonies

8. Prince Edward Island British, mostly Scottish British, mostly Scottish Farming is the main industry Farming is the main industry Some ship building Some ship building Island isolated from everything, only way off is by water Island isolated from everything, only way off is by water Prosperous but land owned by “absentee landlords” that lived in Great Britain Prosperous but land owned by “absentee landlords” that lived in Great Britain

9. Newfoundland British, most live along the coast British, most live along the coast FISHING the Grand Banks, mostly cod FISHING the Grand Banks, mostly cod Industries that supported fishing (ship building, net making, sail making), craftspeople Industries that supported fishing (ship building, net making, sail making), craftspeople Transportation poor, sea and few roads Transportation poor, sea and few roads

10. British Colonial Policy Mercantile System Mercantile System Goods from colonies sold in Britain with low tariffs Goods from colonies sold in Britain with low tariffs Britain by raw materials from colonies, in return colonies by manufactured goods from Britain Britain by raw materials from colonies, in return colonies by manufactured goods from Britain Repeal of Corn Laws (1846) Repeal of Corn Laws (1846) Colonies lost guaranteed market in Britain as manufacturers were now allowed to buy from where ever they got the lowest price Colonies lost guaranteed market in Britain as manufacturers were now allowed to buy from where ever they got the lowest price

11. Free Trade and Reciprocity Reciprocity Treaty of 1854 Reciprocity Treaty of 1854 Britain cancelled protective tariffs causing Canada to look south to the U.S.A. for trading Britain cancelled protective tariffs causing Canada to look south to the U.S.A. for trading Treaty lowered tariffs and duties on both sides Treaty lowered tariffs and duties on both sides

12. Great Britain Britain was tired of taking care of little colonies, too expensive to protect Britain was tired of taking care of little colonies, too expensive to protect Wanted colonies to be self sufficient Wanted colonies to be self sufficient

13. Video

14. U.S. Civil War 1861-65 North vs. South North vs. South Britain supported South, supplied with ships Britain supported South, supplied with ships North wanted repayment for damages, thought Canada was good payment North wanted repayment for damages, thought Canada was good payment Fenian (Irish Catholics) Raids Fenian (Irish Catholics) Raids Threat of US expansion into BNA Threat of US expansion into BNA

15. Trade Reciprocity Treaty with U.S. ended in 1866 leading to increased tariffs Reciprocity Treaty with U.S. ended in 1866 leading to increased tariffs The colonies needed to trade with each other but had no transportation system to do this The colonies needed to trade with each other but had no transportation system to do this

16. Need for a Railway Trade too difficult between colonies, especially in winter when ports frozen in Canada West and East, BC isolated Trade too difficult between colonies, especially in winter when ports frozen in Canada West and East, BC isolated Would improve communication, transportation and protection Would improve communication, transportation and protection Together colonies could share the costs Together colonies could share the costs

17. Political Deadlock Legislature of United Province of Canada (East and West) not able to pass any important laws Legislature of United Province of Canada (East and West) not able to pass any important laws French of East and British of West had separate interests French of East and British of West had separate interests

18. Assignment You live in one of the colonies in British North America You live in one of the colonies in British North America Write a one page journal/diary entry describing a typical day in your life Write a one page journal/diary entry describing a typical day in your life Be sure to include: date, where you live, what you do, what’s going on around you Be sure to include: date, where you live, what you do, what’s going on around you Look at assessment criteria on back of handout Look at assessment criteria on back of handout