Transcript Confederation 1867 - Mrs. Locke

Chapter 7: The Road to
Confederation
The 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 Confederation
The 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:
• Provincialweak
• Federalstrong
– 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 needs
4. 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 huge
3. 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 Needs
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Trade among colonies needed rail
system
1n 1850, only 106 km of line existed
Much of rail business going to
Americans
Colonists sought to build own rail
lines
Between 1850-1867, 3 570 km of
line added
Grand Trunk Railway sought to join
Canada West to Halifax
a) Expensive and nearly went
bankrupt
b) Solution was uniting to share
costs
c) Railway would improve
communication and trade link
d) 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 Confederation
Maritime 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 Confederation
Maritime 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 Confederation
Maritime 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 SeventyTwo Resolutions?
5. Give an example of one of the resolutions
made at the Quebec Conference.
The Road to Confederation
Opposition 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 Confederation
The 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 Confederation
The 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 2
The 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
1.
•Banks
•Taxation
•Licensing of businesses
•Immigration
•Trade
•Foreign affairs
•Aboriginal affairs
Questions
Which 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 Questions
1. 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 Confederation
Provinces and Territories
in order of entering Confederation
• 1 July 1867
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
15 July 1870
20 July 1871
1 July 1873
13 June 1898
1 Sept 1905
31 March 1949
1 April 1999
Ontario, Quebec,
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick
Manitoba, Northwest Territories
British Columbia
Prince Edward Island
Yukon Territory
Saskatchewan, Alberta
Newfoundland and Labrador
Nunavut Territory
Assignment

The Birth of a Nation
Definitions

Manifest Destiny — a belief among many post-American Civil War politicians

Reciprocity--Free trade between countries where goods can be traded

Expansionism--the policy of expanding the territorial base (or economic

Preferential Trade--is a trading pact which gives special access to certain

Political deadlock --a situation where little or no bills or legislation can be
that the U.S. was destined to control North America and this notion was backed
up by God. Manifest means “apparent” or “understood”.
without tariffs (import taxes)
influence) of a country, usually by means of military force; empire building
products from certain countries. This is done by reducing tariffs, but does not
remove them completely.
passed in Parliament because no one government has the majority to pass the
bills. Creates a situation where government stops working.