Chapter 7: The Road to ConfederationThe Great Coalition

• After Baldwin and Lafontaine retired in 1851, reformers and conservatives were unable to get along. Consequently, very little was accomplished over the next few years.

The Road to ConfederationThe Great Coalition

• In 1864, however, three influential leaders – George Brown (English reformer), John A. Macdonald (English conservative) and George-Etienne Cartier (French conservative) formed a coalition

– Their goal was to unite all of the British North American colonies

Key Ideas to Know

• What does confederation 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 in a stronger unit, the nation

• What kind of government resulted?– A two levels of government with a division of powers:

• Provincialweak• Federalstrong

– Federal has most powers (central focus)

Confederation Day• Took place on July 1st, 1867 (why we

celebrate Canada Day on July 1st).

• The three original colonies that joined together were: Province of Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia.

• They became the provinces of: Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

• Other provinces and territories have joined in the years since 1867 at different times.

Main Reasons for Confederation

• Read page 123-125.

1.What were the main reasons in favour of confederation?

Reasons for Confederation

1. Threat from the U.S.2. Trade – Problems

with Britain, reciprocity with U.S. ends

3. Railway needs4. Demand for more

land

1. Threat from the U.S.

• Britain supported South during American Civil War, 1861-1865 – sold warships to Southern

forces

• Southern soldiers stage raids on Northern states out of Canada

• BNA fear retaliation by Northern U.S. to get back at Britain

1. Threat from U.S. - American Expansionism

• Manifest Destiny 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 m)

• American settlers, railways, trade pressing West and surrounding Red River Settlement

• Gold rush in BC drawing thousands of Americans into colony

2. Trouble with British Trade• Before 1846, BNA colonies

had favoured trade with Britain.

• Special deal called “preference”.

• In 1846, Britain ended preference and now allowed goods from all countries without charging taxes.

• Caused financial pressure on colonies.

2. Trade - British Economic Support Fades

1. Britain looked at BNA colonies as great expense

2. Defense costs huge3. Wanted colonies to

pay own way and become independent

4. New attitude came at time of Fenian raids and U.S. westward expansion

2. Trade • In 1854, BNA entered into RECIPROCITY

TREATY with U.S. for 10 years.• BNA and the U.S. had a free trade system.

They would sell goods to each other without charging taxes.

• U.S. ended treaty in 1865, BNA colonies suffered.

• The colonies charged each other taxes when buying/selling goods. If they joined together they could have a free trade system.

3. Railway Needs1. Trade among colonies needed rail

system2. 1n 1850, only 106 km of line existed3. Much of rail business going to

Americans4. Colonists sought to build own rail lines5. Between 1850-1867, 3 570 km of line

added6. Grand Trunk Railway sought to join

Canada West to Halifaxa) Expensive and nearly went

bankruptb) Solution was uniting to share costsc) Railway would improve

communication and trade linkd) Increase security and defense of

BNA

4. Demand for more land• Many settlers still arriving in BNA all the

time

• Needed more land to live and farm on

• If the colonies joined together they could afford to buy more land and expand

• Settlers could move west and keep U.S. threat away

• Money could be made from resources in the west

Political Deadlock• United Canada in 1860 had

severe political deadlock• Government and opposition

nearly even number of seats• Impossible to pass bills in

Assembly or make new laws• Government ground to halt

George Brown

John A. Macdonald

Political Deadlock• Between 1849-1864 twelve

different governments in power: Political Deadlock

• In 1864 Macdonald's government defeated

• Instead of new election, sought to join forces with George Brown, leader of Clear Grits

• Great Coalition was formed. It brought together the politicians of East and West Canada together despite differences

• Intent was to form a larger nation that would include the other BNA colonies.

Assignment

• Read page 120-121

I. Maritime Union

1. Many in Canada wanted colonies to unite— become free of British rule

2. Movement to join 4 Atlantic colonies into a Maritime Union separate from other colonies

3. Many wanted to stay British subjects

4. French Canadians feared end of their separate identity and rights

The Road to ConfederationMaritime Union and the Charlottetown Conference

• Meanwhile, the Maritime colonies (NB, PEI, NS) were talking about forming a union separate from Canada. They decided to meet in Charlottetown to

discuss it. NL was not involved because they were so far away from the mainland. They heard about it but by the time they asked to join the discussion it was too late to arrange transportation and select representatives.

The Road to ConfederationMaritime Union and the Charlottetown Conference

• The leaders of the Province of Canada heard about this, and they came to Charlottetown to try to convince the Maritimes to join them. This was the Charlottetown Conference. – Thus, Charlottetown is considered to be the birthplace of

Confederation.

I. Charlottetown Conference 1864

1. Conference called to discuss Maritime union

2. Political leaders from Canada crashed the event and pressed for a larger Confederation

3. Second conference held at Quebec in fall to draw up rules for Confederation

4. Rules partly became BNA Act

The Road to ConfederationMaritime Union and the Charlottetown Conference

– At the Charlottetown Conference, the leaders agreed to meet again a month later in Quebec to negotiate the details (called the Quebec Resolutions) of union

Quebec Conference• Leaders from the Province of

Canada, the Maritime colonies and Newfoundland came together to talk about Confederation. They met in Quebec City in October 1864 to create a document called the Quebec Resolutions.

• After this conference each colony brought these resolutions back to its legislative assembly to be voted on. Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland turned down the agreement.

• The decisions they came to were called the Quebec Resolutions.

• Although Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland both took part, after the conference they both decided not to join Confederation at that time.

The Quebec Conference (pg 122)

1. Which colonies (be specific) attended the Quebec Conference?

2. What happened at the Quebec conference?

3. What is a resolution?

4. What was the purpose for the Seventy-Two Resolutions?

5. Give an example of one of the resolutions made at the Quebec Conference.

The Road to ConfederationOpposition to Confederation

• At first, the leaders of the Atlantic colonies found little support for Confederation.

– In Nova Scotia, Premier Charles Tupper was pro-Confederation, while a man named Joseph Howe led a campaign against Confederation. In the end, Nova Scotia joined without seeking public approval.

Fathers of Confederation

The Road to ConfederationThe Dominion of Canada

• From 1866 to 1867, the leaders from the Province of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick met with Britain to go over the details of the Quebec Resolutions.

London Conference

• The last of the three Confederation Conferences.

• It took place in London, England in December of 1866.

• At this conference leaders from the Province of Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia turned the rough draft of the Quebec Resolutions into the British North America Act.

.

The Road to ConfederationThe Dominion of Canada

– In March 1867, the British North America (BNA) Act was passed into law, and on July 1, 1867, the Dominion of Canada officially came to be.

Assignment 2The BNA Act outlines the powers of the federal and provincial governments. Create a two-column organizer with the headings “Federal Powers” and “Provincial Powers.” Place the items below in the correct columns. Use your textbook (pg 136) for help.

•Defense•Education•Mines and forests•Fisheries•Customs duties•Criminal law•Property rights

•Banks•Taxation•Licensing of businesses•Immigration•Trade•Foreign affairs•Aboriginal affairs

1. QuestionsWhich government received the greatest powers? Why?Do you agree this division of powers was a good one? Explain.

Open-book test

• Next Monday: 7 Page/Carey/Leach

• Next Tuesday: 7 Driscoll

• Resources: textbook (chapter 7), class notes (see website for slideshow notes)

Review Questions1. What was Confederation and when did it happen?

2. What were the 4 reasons in favour of Confederation?

3. Where were the 3 conferences leading up to confederation held and what happened at each one?

4. Which “father of Confederation” became the first Prime Minister?

5. What two levels of government did Confederation create? What is the difference between each one?

The Road to ConfederationProvinces and Territories

in order of entering Confederation• 1 July 1867 Ontario, Quebec,

Nova Scotia, New Brunswick• 15 July 1870 Manitoba, Northwest Territories• 20 July 1871 British Columbia• 1 July 1873 Prince Edward Island• 13 June 1898 Yukon Territory• 1 Sept 1905 Saskatchewan, Alberta• 31 March 1949 Newfoundland and Labrador• 1 April 1999 Nunavut Territory

Assignment

The Birth of a Nation

Definitions Manifest Destiny — a belief among many post-American Civil War

politicians that the U.S. was destined to control North America and this notion was backed up by God. Manifest means “apparent” or “understood”.

Reciprocity--Free trade between countries where goods can be traded without tariffs (import taxes)

Expansionism--the policy of expanding the territorial base (or economic influence) of a country, usually by means of military force; empire building

Preferential Trade--is a trading pact which gives special access to certain products from certain countries. This is done by reducing tariffs, but does not remove them completely.

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.