CONFEDERATIONA United Canada

UNITED CANADA

In the 1860s, the British colonies in North American faced many problems

Confederation was a solution to their problems

Think about it: How could Confederation solve the problems the colonies were facing?

CONFEDERATION

Confederation: the joining together of the colonies to form one country

CONFEDERATION TIME LINE1858 Galt, Cartier, Ross go to Britain to

present idea of Confederation1864 Great Coalition

1864 Charlottetown Conference

1865 Quebec Conference (72 Resolutions)

1866 Annexation Bill

1866-1867 London Conference

July 1, 1867 British North America passed ! Canada created

1870 Manitoba & N.W.T. join

1871 B.C. joins

1873 P.E.I. joins

1898 Yukon joins

1905 Alberta and Saskatchewan join

1949 Newfoundland joins

1999 Nunavut joins

1860S

British colonies faced many problems that they hoped would be solved with a union, or confederation

Problems: 1. Deadlock

2. American invasion3. Trade

4. British attitude towards the colony5. Railway

6. Lack of farm land

1861-1864 REASON 1: CONFLICT & DEADLOCK Canada East and Canada West were not

getting along The two colonies were split by language and

religion By 1861 Canada West had 500 000 more

people than Canada East but each had equal power in government

Rep by Pop became a slogan. This meant that the number of seats and

therefore power was determined by size of population

Think about it: Who had the most to lose if government representation was by population?

POLITICAL DIVISIONS

John A. Macdonald(Liberal –

Conservative Party)

George Brown(Reform Party

George-Etienne Cartier

(Parti Bleu)

Antoine Aime Dorion(Parti Rouge)

Canada West Canada East

THE GREAT COALITIONGeorge Brown (centre) offered to set aside differences to form a Coalition Government to bring about confederationHe joined John A. Macdonald’s government

REASON 2: INVASION The threat of annexation by the USA worried

many people Relations between the colonies and the USA had

been poor since the USA won its independence from Britain

It got worse when Britain supported the south in the civil war

It was made worse again when the USA passed a bill known as the Annexation Bill*, this bill allowed for Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Canada East and West to become part of the USA

It was never made into law but it made Canadians uneasy

*Annexation is when a country expands to include a new area

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The militia grew as Canadian became aware of the need to defend themselves against the USA

FENIAN RAIDS The Fenians were Irish

Americans who invaded Canada in 1866

They invaded Canada to put pressure on the British to leave Ireland

They were never a real threat but made it clear that Canada needed a united army

Think about it: what would a united army provide?

REASON 3: TRADE

In the early 1800s Canada was given certain bonuses to trade with Britain since it was a colony

In 1846 Britain stopped giving Canada this support

Canada now had to sign a trade deal with the USA

In 1865 this deal expired and since the two countries weren’t getting along it was not likely it would be renewed

Because the USA wouldn’t renew the deal Canada had to look to trade with each other

REASON 4:

Britain’s attitude towards Canada had changed

Britain wanted to make money having Canada as a colony not to spend money on Canada

Britain decided that it was time to cut many of their ties with Britain and cut Canada free

REASON 5: RAILWAY

Before Confederation all the colonies had started their own railway

Some such as New Brunswick and Nova Scotia had gone bankrupt before it was done

Confederation would mean that the government would provide the money to finish railways and construct a railway coast to coast

Railways also improved trade and transportation

REASON 6: FARM LAND

Canada West needed to expand Good farm land that could support successful

farming was necessary Canadians were looking to Rupert’s land

(Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta) Unfortunately, so were the Americans!

TALKING POINTS: CHARLOTTETOWN

In the early 1860s Nova Scotia, P.E.I and New Brunswick had decided to form their own union

Canada East and Canada West decided to attend one of their meetings and present the idea of Confederation

In September, 1864 they all meet in Charlottetown, P.E.I and the idea of Confederation is met with enthusiasm

A second conference is planned for the next month in Quebec

TALKING POINTS: QUEBEC

Delegates meet in Quebec and come up with the 72 Resolutions

The 72 Resolutions specifies what Confederation would look like

The list of 72 Resolutions was brought back to their colonies for review and discussion

72 RESOLUTIONS: THE KEY 7

1. Strong central government to handle common matters such as defence and economic development

2. The central government made laws relating to “peace, order and good government”

3. Provinces had defined powers to handle local matters, social and cultural issues

4. Ontario and Quebec would be created5. Parliament would be made up of House of

Commons and Senate6. Representation by Population7. Senate appointed by Governor General

LONDON CONFERENCE

Queen Victoria signed the British North America Act and Canada was created

The new Canada had four provinces Ontario (formerly Canada West) Quebec (formerly Canada East) Nova Scotia New BrunswickSir John A. Macdonald passed a Canadian

Constitution and he actually wrote most of it himself

GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES AFTER CONFEDERATION

Banking and money Navigation and

shipping First Nations Defence Criminal law

Education Health and medicine Forestry and other

resources Property right (laws

relating to land) Roads

Federal Provincial

FATHERS OF CONFEDERATION

John A. Macdonald Emigrated from

Scotland Lawyer & politician Leading role in

Confederation Author of the 72

Resolutions and our Constitution

George Etienne-Cartier Travelled to London

to meet with Queen about possibility of Confederation

Became Macdonald’s most senior member

TEN QUESTIONS ANSWERED ABOUT SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD

http://sirjohnaday.com/#videos

MORE….

Born in Ireland Lived in the USA

before returning to Canada

At first supported US annexation of Canada but changed mind

Poet and politician Assassinated by a

Fenian

Born in Scotland Started The Globe

paper in Toronto Force behind the

Great Coalition Shot and killed by a

former employee

Thomas D’Arcy McGee George Brown

AND MORE…

Born in England Minister of Finance Strong supporter of

Confederation

Born in Nova Scotia Doctor Premier of Nova

Scotia Most Nova Scotians

did not like the 72 Resolutions but he got them passed

Prime Minister in 1896 for 69 days

Alexander Galt Charles Tupper

AND YET ONE MORE…

Born in New Brunswick

Pharmacist He suggested the

name the Dominion of Canada

Samuel Tilley The Fathers of Confederation

A CONVERSATION WITH MACDONALD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtxoXxjskOg&feature=related