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 Confederation1.Fear of Annexation (USA)2.Trade Barriers & Reciprocity3.Changing British Attitudes4.Transportation (Railways)5.Fenian Raids6.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 AnnexationManifest 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 AttitudesSun 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 TestSection 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.