Grade 8 History
Confederation
Factors Leading To Confederation
Defence Issues
• During the war of 1812, England successfully defended the
colonies in North America against the United States.
• England had many colonies all over the world including India,
South Africa, Australia, and the Caribbean. All of these
colonies needed troops to keep them safe. This became very
expensive for England.
• England went to war with Russia in the Crimean War, so many
troops in North America were sent from Canada to fight the
Russians.
• Who would defend us against another American invasion?
British Colonies
Factors Leading To Confederation
Fenian Raids
• Ireland and England have had a history of conflict. Ireland
wanted to be independent of Great Britain, which ruled
countries like Scotland, Wales and England.
• More than 2 million Irish people immigrated to North America
during this time; many to the USA, others to Canada.
• Many Irish men formed a group called the Fenians. These
men armed themselves and planned on attacking British
colonies in North America from the United States.
• With soldiers being recalled to fight Russia, who would defend
us against these Irish rebels?
Factors Leading To Confederation
Transportation
• The colonies were set up to transport their goods mainly to
Britain, because colonies are meant to help the ‘motherland’
make a profit.
• If you wanted to transport something to British Columbia, you
would have to send it by sea around the coast of South
America.
• There was no system to support trade between the colonies in
North America.
• How would Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritime colonies trade
for mutual benefit?
In order to transport goods,
messages, or soldiers to the colony
of British Columbia, the route was
most inconvenient.
Transportation
• The colonies built the “Grand Trunk Railway” connecting
Montreal and Toronto, but the railway was losing money.
• It was proposed to extend The Grand Trunk Railway all the
way to St. John and Halifax so that it could help trade between
the colonies, but Great Britain would not pay for it.
• The new name for this proposed railway was “The
Intercollonial Railway”.
• The only roads that existed were rough horse trails that were
completely closed in the winter.
Factors Leading to Confederation
Manifest Destiny
• During the American Civil War, Great Britain was almost
dragged into the huge conflict over the issue of slavery.
• After the Northern States (The Union) defeated the Southern
States (The Confederacy), The United States of America looked
to Canada and Mexico as targets.
• American politicians believed their destiny included owning all
of North America.
Factors Leading to Confederation
Annexation Bill
• In 1866, an American politician introduced this bill to congress
which would allow the colonies of Nova Scotia, New
Brunswick, Canada East (Quebec), Canada West (Ontario), and
British Columbia join the United States as official States.
• This was seen as a peaceful and legal way to Manifest Destiny.
• Fortunately the Bill did not pass, and was rejected by
American politicians.
Factors Leading to Confederation
Political Issues
• Queen Victoria chose Ottawa as the permanent capital of
Canada in 1866.
• Canada East (Quebec) and Canada West (Ontario) used
Equal Representation which gave each colony the same
number of seats or representatives in government.
• Canada West (Ontario) began to grow much faster than
Canada East (Quebec). Should they still have the same
number of seats?
Factors Leading to Confederation
Political Issues
Political Party
Location of Origin Leader
Priorities
Conservatives
(Tories)
Canada West
John A.
Macdonald
Join BNA using
representation by
population
Liberals (Grits)
Canada West
George Brown
Reform BNA using
representation by
population
Bleus
Canada East
George-Etienne
Cartier
Join BNA if
Canada East gets
power over
religion and family
law
Rouges
Canada East
Antoine-Aime
Dorion
Join Canada East
into the USA and
reduce power of
church in politics
Factors Leading to Confederation
Political Issues
George Brown
• Leader of the Liberal party was the biggest supporter of
Representation by Population.
• Demanded Canada West get 16 more seats than Canada East
because of their larger population.
• He owned his own newspaper (The Globe) and used this
forum in Toronto to write biased reports on the issue.
• There is currently a college in Toronto named after him.
Factors Leading to Confederation
Political Issues
George-Etienne Cartier
• Leader of the Bleus, was a lawyer from Montreal.
• Strongly opposed Representation by Population because he
was afraid the French language, catholic faith, and Canadiens
culture would be wiped out of Canada.
• Never agreed to Rep by Pop, and became bitter enemies with
George Brown.
Factors Leading to Confederation
Political Issues
John A. Macdonald
• Leader of the conservatives and eventually the first
Prime Minister of Canada
• Believed strongly in forming a new nation.
• Demonstrated great compromise by satisfying the wants
of both Cartier and Brown.
• Convinced both sides to agree to Representation by
Population and guaranteeing protection of French
culture.
• Was accused of being corrupt, accepting bribes.
Charlottetown Conference
• Since Canada West and Canada East had agreed to work
together and make their own decisions, the maritime colonies
decided they would too.
• The Charlottetown conference was planned to discuss a
Maritime Union between P.E.I., Nova Scotia, and New
Brunswick. (Newfoundland was not invited)
• John A. MacDonald was so excited that this meeting was
taking place, that he managed to get the Canadas invited.
• At the end of the conference, they decided to support
merging the Maritimes and the Canadas.
Quebec Conference
• A month later, the Maritime colonies and Canadas met again,
this time inviting Newfoundland.
• This conference was about how the power was to be divided.
• A federal government would be elected to handle national
issues like aboriginal relationships and defence (military).
• There would also be provincial elections in charge of
education and transportation.
• John A. Macdonald was the main influence in writing these
laws.
Opposition
• Antoine-Aime Dorion – Leader of the Rouge party opposed
Confederation because he feared the destruction of French
Culture. He proposed a referendum giving the people an
opportunity to vote for or against confederation. Preferred
joining the U.S.A.
• Wilfred Laurier – Voiced his opinion that Quebec should work
to be free and independent to preserve their culture.
• Joseph Howe – Premier of Nova Scotia felt that the smaller
Nova Scotia would be overpowered by Ontario and Quebec.
He felt the size of Canada made it impossible for the
Maritimes to be actively involved or heard in the proposed
gigantic country.
The London Conference
• After much arguing and voting, representatives travelled to
London, England to formally ask for independence.
• The provinces that agreed to join confederation were Canada
West, Canada East, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.
• PEI declined because the new country “Canada” refused to
pay $800,000 to buy land from English “Landlords”.
• Newfoundland declined to join because they did not want to
give up their way of life and loyalty to Britain.
Confederation
• July 1st 1867 – The Dominion of Canada was formed.
• Canada retained the monarchy and membership in the British
Empire.
• Britain would still negotiate with other countries on Canada’s
behalf. This continued until 1923.
• We did not have our own constitution until 1982 thanks to
Pierre Elliot Trudeau.