British North America

The Road to Confederation

What was Confederation?

WHAT IS IT:
A Proposal for a POLITIAL UNION OF THE COLONIES in British
North America
WHEN DID IT HAPPEN:
JULY 1ST 1867

Why did B.N.A want a Coalition?

Political Deadlock
Economic Challenges
Pressure from the US

1: Political Deadlock
The Act of Union Doesnt Work.
This was the result of Lord Durhams assessment of what was wrong
with The Constitutional act.
Because now the government had EQUALL representation for Canada
East and West THEY WOULD NOT AGREE ON ANYTHING =
POLITICAL DEADLOCK.
Proposal of: Representation by Population seats in government is
representative of how large your population is. Large population =
more seats.

WHAT THE PROVINCE OF CANADA LOOKS LIKE,

UNDER THE
ACT OF UNION
Canada
East and
Canada
West

<-Upper
and
Lower
Canad
a
Canada
East and
Canada
West

2: Economic Challenges
Trade : Britain stops giving B.N.A special treatment with trade BNA
is forced to price its goods higher and then Britain wont buy = an
economic depression for the colonies.
The Colonies start to think continental trade within the colonies is
better
This leads for the need of a RAILROAD
RAILROADS : Could eventually link all of BNA, bringing goods and open
up the land for settlement
RAILROADS: Were expensive all colonies that had built there own
were deeply in debt. if they were going to create a
TRANSCONTENENTIAL RAILWAY the colonies need to work together.

3: Pressure from the USA

The Civil War Britain needed the American Cotton and smuggled

it
out of the states during the war irritating the Americans ( North) BNA
feared retaliation wouldnt be able to stop an invasion population
much lower than USA.

Manifest Destiny after the Civil War many American believe

that it
is Gods will that they expand and claim all of North America. Some
Extreme Expansionists believe that that also includes BNA.

Reciprocity Treaty Cancelled The USA cancelled the Free Trade

agreement (free trade on lumber, fish, coal ,livestock etc.) with
force them into a union with the USA
Fenian Raids.

BNA to

3 Pressure from the USA: The Feinan Raids

Fenians- were Irishmen from the USA that formed a
brotherhood
They believed if they could capture some BNA coloniesthey could ransom them for Irelands freedom from
British rule.
They made several attempts to invade BNA one in New
Brunswick
Second Fenian attack 1500 Fenians crossed the border
into Canada West killed 6 wounded 30 before retreating
Fenian raids continued until 1871

The Road to Confederation

(With handout)

The Great Coalition :

Canada West 2 Rival Parties George Brown & John A Macdonald
Canada East 2 Rival Parties George Etienne-Cartier & Antoine- Aime Dorion
Macdonald and Cartier served as co-premiers and couldnt solve the political
deadlock they needed the help of their Rival George Brown.
These 3 mean all agreed there had to be a better political structure for Canada
they formed the Great Coalition to create a union of all BNA colonies

Movement for Maritime Union

In order for Confederation to work they needed the Atlantic
Provinces
Atlantic provinces were sceptical because there population was
so small they feared they would have little say in a unified
government
The Maritime provinces saw value in creating their own union
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, NFLD, and PEI decided they would
hold a conference to discuss this union
Representatives from The Canadas were able to obtain an

The Charlottetown Conference:

Representatives from Canada East and West reminded the
Maritimes of the USA threat.
If colonies decided to join the centralized govt would assume the
debts of the colonies ( Railroad debt)
AND it was decided:
Maritime union idea was dropped
A larger union would benefit all of the colonies
Another conference to be held in a month in Quebec

The Quebec Conference:

Began creating a constitution
Decided the Canadian Constitution would be based on the British
Constitution
They would create a federal system of government , this means
different levels of government federal- more power, provincial
less power.
They would create a House of Commons and a Senate.
Atlantic Colonies not so happy, the Canadas are happy.

The Pressure Builds

The colonies are each debating whether or not to join the union.
The Cancellation of the Reciprocity Treaty occurs
Canada East decides that a Collation may help preserve French
Culture
Canada West agrees to it it has the most to gain
Britain supports and pushes for a union promising to push it
through government.
Britain offers to hold a conference in London
Fear of being annexed by the USA is strong leaving many to feel
Confederation is the only choice.

The London Conference

( in the Arrow)

4 Colonies send delegates to London

The constitution would be known as the BRITISH NORTH
AMERICA ACT , presented to British Government for
approval.
The British North America Act was approved by The
House of Commons in Britain - quickly
New Nation was to be called Dominion of Canada
Signed into law March 29, 1867 declaring on July 1st The
Dominion of Canada was to be created.

The Consequences of Confederation

The Federal government system
Constitutional monarchy
Transnational Railroad