1. The Role of History and Myth in the Politics of the Atlantic Provinces Dr. D Brown Pols 322 Fall term 2010

2. Outline ► Significance of historical geography for understanding contemporary Atlantic Canada ► Confederation and its interpretation ► Evolving economic trends and the political response (Acheson and Rawlyk readings) ► Interplay of history and myth

3. Historical Geography ► What are some determining features of geography ► Who was here first? How did they live? ► Why did the settlers come to the Atlantic provinces? What kind of economy did they pursue? ► How have differing forms of political and economic integration transformed the region?

4. Determining Geographic Features ► Proximity to Europe, northeast Atlantic ► Marginal position in relation in continental heartland ► Exceptionally broad continental shelf (fisheries, oil and gas) ► Extension north of Appalachian highlands: forests, agriculture, some minerals ► Isolation of islands, peninsulas

5. Colonial era settlement and economy (to about 1850) ► Nomadic aboriginal life gradually declines ► Agricultural and fisheries-based settlement by French, New Englanders, Scots, Irish, Loyalists and others ► Military significance of Halifax ► Growing importance of trade, shipping, finance

6. Confederation era economy (1850-80) ► Continued development of primary, rural- based economy (farm, fish, forests) ► Rise of iron, steel and coal industries ► Still important shipbuilding and international trade (Atlantic triangle) ► Rise of steam railways, steam ships, and telegraph technology

7. Themes in Acheson article …1 ► Relative success of British migration and capital in Maritime colonies, c. 1800-1850 ► Prosperous economic model based on triangular trade, shipping, finance ► Growing crisis in 1860s: US civil war, end of free trade (“reciprocity”) with US, rise of new technologies (e.g. steam power) ► Confederation offered a powerful alternative economic paradigm: east-west trade and development

8. Acheson themes…2 ► Over time (1880-1920) waves of consolidation and rationalization effectively de-industrializes the Maritimes –but resource industries remain important ► Post WW II: Canadian state expands, providing both compensation for unequal development and dependence.

9. Themes in Rawlyk article ► Paranoia about prospects of Quebec separation ► History of political resistance to the union with Canada ► Significance of /impotence of regional rhetoric of alienation from about 1920 onwards ► Paradoxical attachment to a united Canada and frustration with perceived role in Canada ► Opportunity to think about new alternatives for political and economic integration.

10. Role of history and myth ► Newfoundland as separate country to 1949: still shapes its identity ► Maritimers profoundly ambivalent about Confederation as such (but not as Canadians) ► Are we now as paranoid and dependent as Acheson and Rawlyk suggested in 1977? ► Does blaming Ottawa or Confederation deflect from poor governance or lack of initiative at home?