3. Key Ideas to Know What does confederation mean?
A confederation is a group of people or organizations brought together for a common purpose
What came together to form Canada?
A number of colonies
They became provinces in a stronger unit, the nation
What kind of government resulted?
A two levels of government with a division of powers:
Provincialweak
Federalstrong
Federal has most powers (central focus)

4. What will become of the BNA colonies?
All 5 colonies had earned responsible government, yet they still had political problems
Add in growing economic concerns and people were looking toward a new future for BNA

5. How did the idea come about?
Remember back: Lord Durham had proposed this as a solution to the rebellions 25 years prior!
Politicians in the Province of Canada took the lead
“The scheme as a whole was met with almost universal approval” – John A. Macdonald
Not so fast John A!
Everyone except Canada West was fine to leave things the way they were – Britain was administering government affairs and weren’t interested in taking on more responsibilities and governance

6. Reasons against Confederation
Loss of independence
No attachment/connection between the 5 colonies
Loss of power for minorities
Cost
Trust in politicians
Didn’t want to assume others’ problems
Different needs/wants in each colony
Each colony would now be tied to others and would be impacted by decisions; would need to consider others in all future decisions
Atlantic colonies had closer ties to Britain and US than CE/CW
French were concerned about their culture; Atlantic colonies wouldn’t have power in government due to domination of Prov of Canada based on population; Acadians and First Nations would not be part of the Confederation process yet will be directly impacted by it
Big projects proposed will cost money = TAXES!; not all colonies will benefit from proposals (i.e. NFLD and PEI can’t use the railway)
This is their idea – how will we know it will work? Was proposed 25 yrs ago and people didn’t want it then…what has changed?
Take on the debt of other colonies and assume their issues (i.e. Fr Canadien concerns will now be everyone’s concern)
Not everyone had the same needs/wants (i.e. needed to reform gov’t in Prov of Canada, but gov’t worked well in the Maritime provinces)

7. But… 5 colonies couldn’t dismiss the idea altogether.
They had political, social, geographic, and economic challenges
There were internal and external threats that were endangering the existence of BNA.

8. Reasons for Confederation
US Civil War
American Expansionism
Fenian raids
British trade policy
Reciprocity with U.S. ends
Railway needs
British economic support fades

9. American Civil War, 1861-1865 Britain supported South
sold warships to Southern forces
Southern soldiers stage raids on Northern states out of Canada
BNA fear retaliation by Northern U.S. to get back at Britain

10. American Expansionism
Manifest Destiny promoted by some in the U.S.
God directed right to take over all of North America
1867 U.S. purchased Alaska from Russia ($26 m)
American settlers, railways, trade pressing West and surrounding Red River Settlement
Gold rush in BC drawing thousands of Americans into colony
Concerns of annexation of Rupert’s Land, Colony of Vancouver Island, and the Colony of BC

11. Fenian Raids Fenians were American Irish who despised Britain
Fenians raided colonies along border
Settled in U.S. to escape British control in Ireland
Most were ex-civil war soldiers
Sought to free Ireland of British rule by capturing BNA colonies
U.S. government turned blind eye to raids

12. Trouble with British Trade
Before 1846, BNA colonies had favoured trade with Britain
Special deal called “preference”
In 1846, Britain ended preference and now allowed goods from all countries without charging taxes
Caused financial pressure on colonies
In 1854, BNA entered into RECIPROCITY TREATY with U.S. for 10 years
U.S. ended treaty in 1865, BNA colonies suffered

13. Need for Rail Links Trade among colonies needed rail system
1n 1850, only 106 km of line existed
Much of rail business going to Americans
Colonists sought to build own rail lines
Between , km of line added
Grand Trunk Railway sought to join Canada West to Halifax
Expensive and nearly went bankrupt
Solution was uniting to share costs
Railway would improve communication and trade link
Increase security and defense of BNA

14. British Economic Support Fades
Britain looked at BNA colonies as great expense
Defense costs huge
Wanted colonies to pay own way and become independent
New attitude came at time of Fenian raids and U.S. westward expansion

15. Political Deadlock United Canada in 1860 had severe political deadlock
George Brown
Political Deadlock
United Canada in 1860 had severe political deadlock
As per the Act of Union 1841, government members were elected based on equal representation
Calls for “rep by pop”
For a bill to become law in the Province of Canada, it had to be passed by both Canada West and Canada East: this was called double majority
Government and opposition nearly even number of seats
Impossible to pass bills in Assembly or make new laws
Government ground to halt
John A. Macdonald

16. Key government players in Canada West
John A. Macdonald – leader of the Conservative Party
George Brown – leader of the Clear Grits
Conservative Party
“Tories”
-most popular party in CW
-believed in a British system of government
-opposed to change
Clear Grits
“Liberals”
-defended English Canada interests
-disliked French and Catholics
-wanted more democracy = “rep by pop”
-wanted reform (change)
You can see how even within each region, there would be deadlock amongst members (parties had differing ideas)

17. Key government players in Canada East
George Etienne Cartier – leader of the Parti Bleus
A.A. Dorion – leader of the Parti Rouge
Parti Bleus
-most powerful political group in CE
-favoured co-operation between English and Canadiens
-wanted economic development of CE, protection of French rights, culture, and religion
Parti Rouge
-supported the rights of French Canadiens
-opposed English commercial interests in CE
-wanted reform (change)

18. Political Deadlock
Between twelve different governments in power: Political Deadlock
In 1864 Macdonald's government defeated
Instead of new election, sought to join forces with George Brown, leader of Clear Grits
Great Coalition was formed. It brought together the politicians of East and West Canada together despite differences
Intent was to form a larger nation that would include the other BNA colonies.

19. Another key government player – "Loose Fish"
There were also a large number of “loose fish”, politicians who sat as Independents and were not affiliated with a political party
They held the balance of power in the Legislative Assembly: they would ‘throw’ their vote to the party that could win
Alexander Galt was an influential Independent (aka “loose fish”)

20. The 4 political parties had to form coalitions with each other and with “loose fish” in order to gain power in government. These coalitions were unstable and could quickly change from day to day.
Between 1862 and 1864, 5 governments attempted to govern the Province of Canada. During this time, one such government was only in power for 24 hours! Most do not last longer than a few months.
The people of the Province of Canada were tired of having elections: it was becoming costly and no laws were being passed.

21. The Deadlock is Broken
In 1864, a solution was found to political deadlock within the government of the Province of Canada
Brown (Clear Grits), Macdonald (Conservatives), Cartier (Parti Bleus), and Galt (Independent) joined forces to create the Great Coalition
The Great Coalition was committed to making government work in the Province of Canada
They were also interested in forming a federal union with the Maritime colonies
A federal union includes a strong, central government and weaker provincial governments
If the Great Coalition couldn’t form a union with Maritime colonies, they would form a union within the Province of Canada

22. Maritime Union (end)
Many in Canada wanted colonies to unite— become free of British rule
Movement to join 4 Atlantic colonies into a Maritime Union separate from other colonies
Many wanted to stay British subjects
French Canadians feared end of the separate identity and right

23. Quebec Conference
Leaders from the Province of Canada, the Maritime colonies and Newfoundland came together to talk about Confederation. They met in Quebec City in October 1864 to create a document called the Quebec Resolutions.
After this conference each colony brought these resolutions back to its legislative assembly to be voted on. Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland turned down the agreement.
The decisions they came to were called the Quebec Resolutions.
Although Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland both took part, after the conference they both decided not to join Confederation at that time.

24. Fathers of Confederation

25. Fathers of Confederation
John A. Macdonald
George-Etienne Cartier
Joseph Howe
Charles Tupper
Samuel Tilley
Joseph Smallwood
James Pope
Macdonald (CW), Cartier (CE), Howe (NS), Tupper (NS), Tilley (NB), Smallwood (Nfld), Pope (PEI)
Painting by Robert Harris. The location and organization of seating is completely fictitious! This painting was lost when the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa burned down in 1916.

26. Charlottetown Conference 1864
Conference called to discuss Maritime union
Political leaders from Canada crashed the event and pressed for a larger Confederation
Second conference held at Quebec in fall to draw up rules for Confederation
Rules partly became BNA Act

27. London Conference The last of the three Confederation Conferences.
It took place in London, England in December of 1866.
At this conference leaders from the Province of Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia turned the rough draft of the Quebec Resolutions into the British North America Act.
Once this was done Canada officially became a country on July 1, 1867.

28. Canada becomes a country
On July 1, 1867, the country of Canada (Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick) came into existence

29. Definitions
Manifest Destiny — a belief among many post-American Civil War politicians that the U.S. was destined to control North America and this notion was backed up by God. Manifest means “apparent” or “understood”.
Reciprocity--Free trade between countries where goods can be traded without tariffs (import taxes)
Expansionism--the policy of expanding the territorial base (or economic influence) of a country, usually by means of military force; empire building
Preferential Trade--is a trading pact which gives special access to certain products from certain countries. This is done by reducing tariffs, but does not remove them completely.
Political deadlock --a situation where little or no bills or legislation can be passed in Parliament because no one government has the majority to pass the bills. Creates a situation where government stops working