The Factors that Brought BNA Together
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Transcript The Factors that Brought BNA Together
There were THREE main factors
that brought the colonies together
1) Transportation
2) Defence Issues
3) Politics
1. Transportation
Problems with the Existing
Transportation System
Existing system was canals, lakes, rivers and railways
Few roads
Canals and railways were used to get goods to ports so
they could be shipped to Britain and the USA
Not designed for Intercolonial trade
BNA needed an efficient railway system to transport
goods among colonies
There were sections of railway throughout the
colonies, but gaps between them prevented EastWest trade from growing
Grand Trunk Railway : linked Montreal and Toronto
Intercolonial Railway: linked Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick
Some political leaders in Canada West and Canada East
had ties to railways companies
George-Étienne Cartier: Canada East
Alexander Galt: Canada West
Both men were disappointed that the Grand Trunk Railway
was not doing well financially
So they went to
thinking...
$$$$$$
If the Intercolonial Railway were extended
westward from the Maritimes to Montreal, the
Grand Trunk Railway would make large profits
Nova Scotia fish would come west to Toronto and
Sarnia
Manufactured goods would go east to Saint John and
Halifax
Passenger traffic would go up
And this all means....
To complete the Intercolonial Line so that it ran to
Montreal, investors had to borrow large sums of money
in London, England
British banks were unwilling to lend money unless they
could be guaranteed it would be repaid
BARING BROTHERS: one of largest British banks
Thought uniting colonies would make BNA stronger
Would make repayment of the money more certain
Would ONLY lend money if the colonies united
Manufactures in the Canadas supported the
Intercolonial
Meant new markets in Maritimes for their products
Food producers in the Maritimes were also in favour
Their goods could now sell in the larger markets of the
Canadas
2. Defense Issues
BRITISH WITHDRAWL OF TROOPS
FENIAN RAIDS
AMERICAN WAR/ MANIFEST DESTINY
3. Politics
When the Canadas ( East and West) were united in
1841, they established a common legislature to pass
laws for both colonies
The capital moved from place to place from Kingston
to Montreal, Toronto, and Quebec City.
In 1857, Queen Victoria chose Ottawa as the
permanent capital and Parliament opened in 1866.
There were 4 major
political parties
The Representation
ISSUE
There was a MAJOR flaw in the way the Canadas had been
united
Each colony had the same number of seats in legislature,
which meant they had EQUAL REPRESENTATION
- worked well until the pop’n of Canada West began to grow
faster than Canada East
Many in Canada West began to ‘mumble’ that this was
unfair
SO enters...
REP’ BY POP’
‘Representation by Population’
Politicians in Canada West calculated that if Canada
East had 65 seats, Canada West should have 81
It was argued that Canada West should immediately get
16 additional seats in order to balance the representation
in the legislature
Three Politicians quickly stood
out from the rest in the debate
George Brown
-Canada West
George-Etienne Cartier
-Canada East
John A. MacDonald
-Canada West
George Brown –Canada West
Owner of the Globe, Toronto`s largest newspaper
Was the leading supporter of Rep’ By Pop’
Brown used Globe to print `fiery' speeches and
editorials about Rep`By Pop
George-Etienne
Cartier
–Canada East
A lawyer from Montreal
Was a strong enemy of Rep’ by Pop’
Represented Canadiens: Canadians of French descent
French were already a minority in the Canadas
(smaller population)
Giving Canada West (English) more seats, would just
make French presence even smaller
Cartier believed English Canada would use power to
push through laws that may threaten French culture
Became bitter enemies with Brown over Rep`By Pop`
John A. MacDonald
-Canada West
A lawyer from Kingston
Had a reputation for fairness and political skill
He realized that the ‘fiery’ speeches of Brown and
Cartier were not going to solve the Rep’ by Pop’
debate
Cartier wanted to protect French culture and
language, not the voting system
Brown wanted fair representation
MacDonald eventually came up with a solution that
works for everyone... But that’s to come!
Stalemate in the
Legislature
Think back to POLITICAL DEADLOCK
What two topics always caused it between the Canadas?
Every time a major bill would come to debate, it caused
political deadlock.
MacDonald was trying to keep together a union that was
fragile from the start.
He desperately wanted the two sides to work together:
English and French/ Canada East and West
The Solution had to be bigger than just the two colonies...
Who was left out of the
discussions?
Women were thought to have no place in politics at this
time
They were not allowed to vote or hold a seat in government
Many did follow the discussions however and spoke with their
husbands, sharing ideas
This would give them a chance to have some say
Aboriginals were also left out of politics and public life
They were not thought of as British subjects
Did not believe in individual ownership of property (land)
Because being a British subject and a land owner were
requirements to be a voting member, they were not
allowed to vote