Fathers of confederation

1. Fathers of confederation Three Driven Men

2. 1867: How the fathers made a deal – christophermoore • 1860’s Experience with constitution making may enlighten us on several points: • Constitution Making is Divisive • Representative Democracy has its Uses • All Legitimate Political Opinion Deserves a Place at the Table • Constitution-Making Takes Time • Fathers Of Confederation

3. George-etiennecartierchief of french-canadian nationality • 1864 – Dominant Politician of Canada East for Decade • Double life – proclaimed himself a proud son of the people, but made a fortune as a big-city railway lawyer • Exalted Catholocism and worked hard at cultivating alliances with the clerical hierarchy, but his private life was irreligious • An apostle of traditional family life, he was both neglectful and controlling with his daughters, who, according to biographer Christopher Moore, grew up despising him • Above all, a defender of French Canada’s traditional ways, but also a fervent admirer of the British Empire, a monarchist who wore English-tailored clothes, talked of retiring to London, and named one of his daughters “Reine-Victoria”

4. The Bleus • Cartier welded a bloc of parliamentary supporters, the Bleus, into a cohesive party solidly behind his leadership • Ultimate goal is a partnership between French and English politicians in which French Canada would never be neglected (140)

5. John a. macdonaldsly fox • Macdonald experienced a retreat from political life after the death of his wife and infant son – it was around this time that a drinking problem began • Macdonald, a Scot by birth, came to Canada at age 5 and maintained a suspicion for Britain • As a young man, he revealed a genius for political persuasion • Trained as a lawyer, Macdonald revealed a gift for expertise in election law and parliamentary procedure • Observers of the time noted his drunken revelries, but also described him as a “sly fox”

6. A coalition ministry • Sharing a vision of confederation John A. Macdonald is allied with George Etienne Cartier • 1864 Cartier and Macdonald sailed to Charlottetown • Met with Maritime Leaders; George Brown also came along to this meeting (Rouges)

7. George brownfounder of the globe • For many years, George Brown was a disturbing presence in the political landscape of MacDonald and Cartier • Brown wanted change in Canada’s political life • He wanted union, but was a fervent South-Ontario patriot • He “resented French-Canadian and Roman Catholic influence over the union that already existed between the future Ontario, then Canada West, and the future Quebec, then Canada East” (Moore, 4) • Catholic Canada East loathed him as a bigot • He nursed a venomous mutual hatred with John A. Macdonald • 1844 establishes Globe newspaper, aggressive, uncompromising

8. George Brown and his three wishes • A Scotsman like MacDonald, George Brown is a powerful obstacle to the goals of Cartier and Macdonald • The Glove was pungently political, and other than making fun of MacDonald, the newspaper set out to champion 3 main causes: • Responsible Government • Separation of Church and State • Rep-by-Pop (as opposed to sectional equality) • Clear grits, a reform group even more radical than Brown, were willing to kill the union of the issue of majority rules (17-18).

9. George brown’s moment of grace • 1864 – Macdonald and Cartier still struggling against the constant effort to build a government without the “impossible man” (27) • Although MacDonald and Cartier were in power, Brown’s idea to create an all-party legislative committee on constitutional matters was approved • June 17 Brown stood up in legislative Quebec and offered to go into a coalition with his hated rivals • They had only to accept either a federation or confederation (including Maritimes and potentially north-west as well