1838 - 1891
THE ROADS TO CONFEDERATION
REVIEW

The Union Act of 1841
 Upper
and Lower Canada were united under one
government
 Equal representation in the Assembly
 Upper Canada’s debt was pooled with Lower
Canada’s much smaller debt
 English would be the only official language of
government
CONFEDERATION

What does that 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
Stronger yet – A NATION!
What kind of government resulted?

Two levels of government with a division of powers:
 Provincial
– weak
 Federal – strong
REASONS FOR CONFEDERATION
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
War and expansionism in the U.S
Fenian (Irish-American veterans) raids
British trade policy
Mutual Exchange (reciprocity) with U.S. ends
Need for Railway
British economic support fades
1. AMERICAN CIVIL WAR 1861 - 1865

Britain claimed neutrality during the American
Civil War (1861 – 1865)
 In
reality, they supported the Southern Confederacy
Southern soldiers stage raids on Northern
states out of Canada
 British North America fear retaliation by
Northern U.S. to get back at Britain

2. AMERICAN EXPANSIONISM

Manifest Destiny – a belief among many post-American
Civil War politicians that the U.S. was destined to control
North American and this notion was backed by God.
Manifest means “apparent” or “understood”.





Was 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 million)
American settlers, railways, trade pressing West and
surrounding Red River settlement
Gold Rush in BC drawing thousands of Americans into
colony
3. FENIAN RAIDS
4. TROUBLE WITH BRITISH TRADE

Before 1845, British North America colonies had favored
trade with Britain


In 1846, Britain ended preference and now allowed goods
from all countries without charging taxes



Preferential Trade – a trading post which gives special access to
certain products from certain countries. This is done by
reducing tariffs, but does not remove them completely
Caused financial pressure on colonies
In 1854, British North America entered into Reciprocity
Treaty – free trade between countries where goods can be
traded without tariffs (import taxes)
U.S. ended treaty in 1865

British North America Colonies suffered
5. NEED FOR RAILWAYS

Trade among colonies needed rail system

In 1850, only 106 km of line existed
Most of rail business going to Americans
 Colonists sought to build own rail lines



Between 1850 – 1867, 2 570 km of line was added
Grand Trunk Railway wanted to join Canada West
to Halifax
Expensive and nearly went bankrupt
 Solution was uniting to share costs
 Railway would improve communication and trade
 Increase security and defense of British North America

6. BRITISH ECONOMIC SUPPORT FADES

Britain looked at British North America colonies
as a huge expense
 Defense

is expensive
Wanted colonies to pay own way and become
independent
 New
attitude came at time of Fenian raids and U.S.
westward expansion
7. POLITICAL DEADLOCK

United Canada in 1860 had severe 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.
 Government
and opposition have almost the same
number of seats
 Government was on pause
PICTURE TIME
PRE-CONFEDERATION POLITICAL PEEPS

The province of Canada (Quebec and Ontario)
consisted of two opposing forces

Conservatives (English Canadians)
 Canada
West – John A. Macdonald’s “Liberal
Conservative Party”
 Canada East – George Etienne Cartier’s parti blue

Reformers: (French Canadians)
 Canada
West – George Brown’s Reform Party
 Canada East – Antoine-Aime Dorion’s parti rouge
GOOD LOOKIN’ MEN
John A. Macdonald
George-Etienne
Cartier
George Brown
Antoine-Aime Dorion
HERE WE GO…

In total, there were 36 original ‘Fathers of
Confederation’ including the key figures
mentioned in the previous slides.
THE CHARLOTTETOWN CONFERENCE

September 1 – 9, 1864
 In
the spring, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI
were contemplating the possibility of Maritime
Union.
 This

interest sparked the Charlottetown Conference
Representatives from UC and LC attended the
conference
A
conclusion was made – this idea of a union
warranted discussion
 So,
more meetings
MORE CHARLOTTETOWN CONFERENCE

Canadian delegation proposed the following
foundations for a new country
Preservation of ties with Great Britain
 Residual jurisdiction left to a central authority
 A bicameral system including a Lower House with
representation by population and an Upper House with
representation based on regional, rather than provincial
 Equality
 Responsible government at the federal and provincial
levels, and
 The appointment of a governor general by the British
Crown
