1. Setting the Stage for Confederation

2. Why Teach Confederation?
This is truly the beginning of Canada as we know it, not solely as another colony of the British Empire, but an independent (somewhat) entity of its own
It’s an interesting story about working together to achieve something

3. The Cast: The Fathers of Confederation

4. The Actors Sir John A. MacDonald and charismatic
Moderate Conservative from Canada West
Flippant, impulsive
and charismatic

5. The Actors George Brown Clear Grit from Canada West
Solemn and serious, hates McDonald

6. The Actors George Etienne Cartier
Moderate Conservative from Canada East
Natural leader, responsible for leading French
to Confederation

7. Why Come Together?
There were a number of reasons why Confederation was a good idea:
American Civil War
Annexation and Instability
Economic development
Trade
National projects that were too big to do provincially
Trans-Canada Railroad
True self-government
Representation by population

8. How Did It Happen? The Great Coalition
The Act of Union had left Canada in a state of political deadlock
Equal representation, weak governments, and tensions building in Canada
The American Civil War had a lot of people nervous, something needed to change, and fast
In October of 1863, George Brown proposed an all-party legislative committee (Conservatives and Reformers alike) to discuss Canada’s future
In June of 1864, the Great Coalition was formed, of which MacDonald, Brown and Cartier were all members.

9. The Charlottetown Conference, 1864

10. The Charlottetown Conference, 1864
The Great Coalition then attended a conference on Maritime union in Prince Edward Island
The meeting was originally planned for uniting New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI
They joined government and opposition politicians from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI for the Charlottetown Conference in September 1864 to discuss a union for all British North American colonies.
It was decided they would continue the discussions next month, in Quebec City.

11. The Quebec Conference, 1864

12. The Quebec Conference, 1864
One major argument was whether the new country should have a:
Legislative union where all laws are made by a central government
Or a Federal union where the central government makes some laws, but provincial governments handle local matters
They decided on the latter to please Quebec and the Maritimes
Other decisions made:
The House of Commons would be elected using representation by population
There would be an appointed senate with equal representation
Parliament would have three parts: the elected House of Commons, the appointed Senate and the Monarch, represented by the Governor General

13. The London Conference, 1866

14. The London Conference, 1866
Representatives from Canada East (Quebec), Canada West (Ontario), New Brunswick and Nova Scotia travelled to London, where Britain signed off on Confederation
Canadian law was still based on British parliamentary law, which will cause some headaches later
On July 1, 1867, the British North America Act was proclaimed and the Dominion of Canada now contained for members: Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
It’s motto: From Sea to Shining Sea

15. The BNA Act