Just Before Confederation
A TIME OF CHANGE
Politics in Canada
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Politics in Canada in the mid 1800’s was a
stormy affair.
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The provinces were divided by language,
religion and different opinions on what
direction the new provinces should take.
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In 1841 there were two main political
groups.
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The Conservatives or Tories (known as the
Parti Bleu) in Quebec.
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The Reform Party or Clear Grits (Parti
Rouge) in Quebec.
Ottawa as a Capital
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In 1857 the issue of choosing a capital for
the province created a major crisis.
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Not everyone was pleased with the Queen’s
choice.
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Since 1841 the assembly had met at
different times in Kingston, Quebec City,
Montreal and Toronto.
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When a vote was taken to move the capital
to Ottawa, most voted against the move.
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Even though Sir John A. government had a
majority of the seats, the vote toppled his
government.
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George Brown and his Grits became the
government, but they suffered a “nonconfidence vote”. He was only PM for 48
hours.
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Sir John A. and his Conservative
government were returned to power.
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In 1857 the government left the decision to
Queen Victoria.
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The Queen chose Ottawa, for several
reasons;
1) Ottawa was far from the U.S. border
and could be protected in an attack.
2) It had good water transportation routes
for moving troops in case of war with the
U.S.
3) Ottawa was right on the border between
Canada East and Canada West.
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Aerial shot of Downtown Ottawa
Early picture of Downtown Ottawa
Construction of the Parliament
Buildings
Early photo of Ottawa
Locks connecting Rideau Canal to the Ottawa
River
Main Street in Ottawa 1905
More Photos of Ottawa
University of Ottawa and the National War Memorial
The Rideau Canal
Map of the Eastern section of the Rideau Canal
Political Deadlock and Coalition
Governments
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During the 1860’s getting any bills (new
laws) passed through the assembly was
almost impossible.
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Members of the government and the
opposition in the assembly were almost
equal.
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Each would vote against the other, so the
system came to a grinding halt.
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George Brown and his Reform Party
wanted representation by population
because Canada West was much larger
than Canada East.
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Canada East hated the idea because they
would be severely outnumbered.
George Brown
Political Deadlock and Coalition
Governments
Portrait of Sir John A. Macdonald
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Political deadlock continued.
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In the three years before 1864, four
governments resigned and there were two
general elections.
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Neither party could get enough votes to
win a government. Sir John A. almost quit
politics.
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George Brown came up with a solution. He
suggested a coalition government.
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A coalition government is the joining of
different political parties in the time of
emergency.
Sir John A. Macdonald
Prime Minister 1867-
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He arrived in Canada from Scotland in
1820.
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In those days a young man could work in a
lawyer’s office during the day and study at
law at night.
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So at age 15, John went to work for a
prominent Kingston lawyer.
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In 1836 at the age of 21 he opened his own
law office in Kingston.
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Due to numerous family problems, Sir
John began to drink heavily.
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In 1867 he was elected as the first Prime
Minister of the Dominion of Canada.
Sir John A. Macdonald
Chapter 2 - The Push to Nationhood
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Why did the British North American colonies want an independent country??? There were 5
major reasons;
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Reason #1 - The Threat of American Takeover
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Between 1861 and 1865 the U.S. was embroiled in a nasty civil war.
The Northern states of the U.S. were fighting their own country men from the Southern states.
The Civil war really had nothing to do with Canada or Britain, but wars have a terrible habit
of affecting the countries around them.
The British supported the Southern states, which did not sit well with the larger and better
equipped Northern states.
After the North won the war in 1865, many felt they may now turn North to conquer Canada.
For either being part of the British Empire or so the Americans would control North America.
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American Civil War Map
The American Civil War - The Union
Union Calvary
Union soldiers resting
The American Civil War
Civil war hospital
The Confederates
General Lee and his soldiers
Abraham Lincoln
The Push to Nationhood
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Reason #2 - Trouble with Trade
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The British North American colonies enjoyed a special position, called a preference, in trading
with Britain.
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In 1846 the British ended the preference and moved to a system of free trade.
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Many Canadians had invest lots of money into business so they could take advantage of the
preference system. Now they had to compete with other countries.
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In 1854, The British North American colonies signed a reciprocity agreement with the U.S.
Under the agreement, certain goods could be traded between the countries without tariffs.
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In 1865 the American ended the reciprocity agreement and the colonies again faced economic
uncertainty.
The Push to Nationhood
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Reasons #3 - The Fenian Raids
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The Fenians were Irish or of Irish descent and their goal was the humiliation of the British
government.
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The Fenians lived on the American side of the boarder. They would cross in raids and attach
settlements from Niagara all the way to New Brunswick.
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John A. Macdonald turned these raids into an argument for the need to unify the colonies.
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The Fenian raids also united the colonies against the U.S. government. Many felt the American
newspapers were encouraging the Fenians and the American government should have helped to
stop them.
The Fenian Raids
Monument to Fenian Raids at
Queen’s Park in Toronto
Medal presented to veterans of the Fenian Raids
The Fenian Raids
Picture of Fenian Raiders
The Push to Nationhood
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Reason #4 - The Need for Rail Links
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If there was going to be trade among the colonies they needed a rail link.
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In 1850 there was only 106 km of track in Canada, compared to 14, 484 km in the U.S.
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Between 1850 and 1867, 3, 570km of track was added to the colonies.
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The railway would also provided a communication link between the colonies and would help
with the dreams of extending Canada to the Pacific ocean.
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A railway link to the maritimes was essential for defense of Canada.
The Push to Nationhood
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Reason #5 - Changing British Attitudes
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Support for the colonies was growing weak in Britain.
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They were upset of the tariffs the colonies now placed on their goods.
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Many felt that if they remained colonies they had the ability to continue to ask for loans to build
infrastructure.
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It was time for them to find their own independence.