The Road to Confederation
1850 – 1867: On the Road to Confederation
Once responsible government had been
won, there were a number of issues still
affecting the British North American
colonies, from within and beyond the
colonies borders.
Factors of Leading to Confederation
1.Fear of Annexation (USA)
2.Trade Barriers & Reciprocity
3.Changing British Attitudes
4.Transportation (Railways)
5.Fenian Raids
6.Political Deadlock
City of Ottawa, Canada West – ca. 1859
Starting in the 1850s calls for a federal union of all British colonies in North America
began to get stronger. It was seen by many as a way to strengthen the colonies and to
deal with the many problems that had arisen since the Act of Union in 1840.
John A. Macdonald
Sir John A. was:
• the first prime minister of Canada and the
dominant figure of Canadian
Confederation.
• he received and deserves much of the
credit for forming the new nation
• he was a skilled orator and debater
• he was a tory (conservative)
• he was a raging alcoholic too
Fear of Annexation
Manifest Destiny –
• US belief that it is their God given right
to rule all of North America
American Civil War – 1860-1865
• Past American wars resulted in invasion
of Canada and a united nation would
serve as a better defense
• Britain supports the south (who lost)
Fenian Raids (1866)
• Irish Catholics in US were committed to
freeing Ireland from British rule
• Canada was closest way to get to Britain
• The raids failed but drew attention to the
need to defend the border
Expensive Railways
Transportation – Railways
• Railways were needed to build links
between colonies for trade
• Financing the railways was expensive
and needed to be shared amongst the
colonies
• The Grand Trunk Railway joins
Montreal and Toronto but a cost of
- $72 million
Q. How do railways change society?
Where do people want to go?
Trade Barriers & Reciprocity
Reciprocity = Free Trade
1854 – Lord Elgin negotiates an agreement with US
1866 – Reciprocity Agreement ends – economy struggles – DEPRESSION
• Interprovincial trade is encouraged but “barriers” exist between colonies
- Transportation
- Tariffs (tax on imports)
Changing British Attitudes
Sun never sets on the British Empire
• Colonies are expensive to run
• Defending colonies more expensive
• Mother country can’t always solve its
colonies issues
•Br. Government supports idea of
confederation
Because English Canadians are first and foremost British loyalists, they find
England’s support for confederation agreeable. In turn, they support it too (must
be good, the Queen thinks it is….)
Q. How do French Canadiens feel?
Confederation Test
Section One: Multiple Choice Questions
Section Two: Matching Questions
Section Three: Fill in the Blank
Section Four: Paragraph Questions (Answer 2 of 3 Questions)
1. Identify and explain the external factors that led to Confederation.
2. Identify and explain the internal factors that led to Confederation.
3. Of the 5 ideologies we have discussed in class, which ideologies are
democratic in nature and which ideologies are totalitarian nature.
Explain why those ideologies that are totalitarian in nature could be
hurtful towards society. Also, what ideology do you believe best
represents your point of view. Explain.