The Confederation Life in America Under the Articles of Confederation.
Confederation
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FIERCE OPPOSITION Confederation
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Confederation. Fierce Opposition. No Union. Some were fiercely opposed to Confederation The maritime provinces were not as concerned about invasion as other provinces Some colonies feared they would lose their identity Two groups were not given a voice in talks - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Confederation
FIERCE OPPOSITION
Confederation
No Union
Some were fiercely opposed to ConfederationThe maritime provinces were not as
concerned about invasion as other provincesSome colonies feared they would lose their
identityTwo groups were not given a voice in talks
Think about it? Whose voices were missing?
The Maritime Colonies
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, P.E.I. had already met to discuss a union
After they met with delegates from Canada East and West in Charlottetown many felt that Confederation was a good idea others did not
Those against Confederation thought their own separate union made more sense
They did not want to lose their independence, their own control or power
Some were just annoyed that Canada East and West showed up and changed the meeting
New Brunswick’s lieutenant-governor Arthur Hamilton Gordon
Gordon was annoyed that Canada East and West came in and took over the Charlottetown conferenceHe returned home early and was clearly annoyed
New Brunswick Nova Scotia
The Premier of New Brunswick liked the idea of Confederation
When he returned home many did not
There was concern that the voice of New Brunswick would not be heard in Canada
They also did not like that minority groups were not heard from (Acadians & Irish Catholics)
The Premier, Charles Tupper, was in favour
Nova Scotians were notJoseph Howe a very
important Nova Scotian was against it and fought hard
Even after Nova Scotia entered Confederation Howe fought to have Nova Scotia leave Confederation
Colonies Against Confederation
Newfoundland Canada East
Newfoundland was not even invited to Charlottetown
They had told everyone they were not interested
They did go to Quebec to observe only
Their biggest concern was taxes
They did not join until 1949
Dorion was against Confederation
He thought provinces would lose their identity and laws
He felt maritime provinces would be a financial drain
He also though the public should be voting on this not politicians
More Colonies Against Confederation
And yet one more!Prince Edward Island
Every delegate was against ConfederationTheir main concerns were losing control over
their affairs, taxation, obligation to support the military if Canada were to go to war
Canada East and Canada West Maritimes
Majority of the representatives
This meant majority of power and control
P.E.I would only have 6 of 194 seats
Newfoundland would have 8
Both were afraid of losing independence
They did not join
72 Resolutions and Representation by Population
People Who Were Not Asked
The First Nations, the Métis and Inuit were not consulted even if their land was in question
First Nations people were mostly living on reserves
Children had been taken from their families and sent to residential schools
Their culture and customs were forbiddenWomen had no say and had no right to vote
until 1918
Title Page from 72 Resolutions with doodles by Macdonald
The Last Stand
By 1900 there 7 provinces and 2 territories As population grew joining Confederation
was a way to have strong governmentNewfoundland was against confederation
until the 1940sNewfoundland joined after a vote that was
won by only a small amount in 1949Nunavut joined in 1999
Joseph Smallwood signing the Confederation document on March 31, 1949
Confederation Rap!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwS45MbLfr4&feature=related
