Canadian Confederation

1. Canadian Confederation

2. French Indian War • Britain takes over French speaking areas of Canada • Creates Canadian Colonies • Include French Speaking Quebec and Montreal

3. Upper Canada William Lyon Mackenzie The Reformers Vs. Family Compact Lower Canada Louis Joseph Papineau The Patriots Vs. Chateau Clique Rebellions of 1837 • Protesting against the Oligarchies control • Desired a Responsible Government • Governor did not have to listen to the elected Assembly • Wanted less Church control of land • Assembly had to approve taxes or no collection would occur • All Rebellions are eventually controlled by British military

5. Lord Durham • sent by Parliament the Canada's in 1838 to investigate the causes of the rebellions and to find a solution • Fearful of losing more colonies (USA)

6. White Board • What was one recommendation of Durham?

7. Durham Report 1839 Findings • Lord Durham referred to French as inferior to the English and "as a people with no history and no literature". • It was a war based on race, not on principles. In his opinion, Canada was a land of two hostile groups: the French and the English. • Unite Upper and Lower Canada to make the French a minority • Assimilate or anglicize the French majority in Lower Canada • Grant Responsible Government

8. British Issue Act of Union 1840 • The act United Upper Canada and Lower Canada into the Province of Canada. • It gave the united colony one legislative assembly with 42 elected members from Canada West, formerly Upper Canada, and 42 elected members from Canada East, formerly Lower Canada • combined the debts • made English the only official language in the assembly.

9. White Board • What group of people were hurt by this action?

11. General Causes of Confederation Changing British Attitudes: • By the 1860s Britain had redirected its focus regarding the Empire. • While still committed to imperial greatness, the emphasis shifted from military strength to trade and profit.

12. General Causes of Confederation The U.S. Civil War: • Britain claimed neutrality during the American Civil War (1861-1865) • Reality: demonstrated implicit sympathy for the Southern Confederacy. • RESULT: angry U.S. government concerned Canadian political leaders.

13. Discuss • What was the treaty of reciprocity?

14. General Causes of Confederation Trade Issues: • Britain ended their policy of providing the colonies with protective tariffs. • GB wanted to increase trade around the world • Treaty of Reciprocity would be canceled between US and GB Tension over Civil War • An Independent Canada could create better trade deals with US

15. General Causes of Confederation The Railway: • The emergence of railways bridged the gap across Canada’s massive geography. Railways brought a sense of inter-connectedness and carried the possibilities of Confederation to the forefront.

16. The Charlottetown Conference • 1864, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI were contemplating the possibility of Maritime Union. • This interest sparked the Charlottetown Conference. • Representatives concluded that the idea of a British North America union warranted discussion.

17. The Charlottetown Conference • proposed the foundations for a new country • preservation of ties with Great Britain • residual jurisdiction left to a central authority • Bicameral or unicameral federal legislature • Based on province or on population • responsible government at the federal and provincial levels • appointment of a governor general by the British Crown.

18. White Board • What major meeting in US history can this be compared to and why?

19. Conflict with Martime ProvincesPrince Edward Island, , Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland • Maritime Provinces pressed for as much equality as possible in the senate(smaller populations) • PEI- opposed representation by population in Fed Parliament

20. The Quebec Conference 1864 • delegates met with representatives Develop plans for Unification. • Created the 72 Resolutions Basis of confederation- Basis of how Canada would be run

21. Compromises at Quebec • Bi Cameral parliament- House of Commons(population) & Senate(equal representation per province • Split Canada's • Canada West-Ontario • Canada East-Quebec • Preservation of French Speaking Canada • Approved by the Catholic Church

22. White Board • Chose one of the compromises and what province it would help most.

23. Problems of Confederation • PEI and Newfoundland did not join confederation • Many feared heavier taxes to support a Fed Gov • Smaller provinces feared being politically dominated by larger ones

24. The London Conference • 1866, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick had all passed union resolutions. • produced the text of the British North America Act, • designation of ‘dominion of Britain.’

25. The British North America Act • Bill passed through the House of Lords and the House of Commons and received the Royal Assent on March 29, 1867. • Canada official became a unified nation on July 1, 1867. • Signed by Queen Victoria

26. Key points BNA • Fed system of government balance of powers between national Gov and Provincial legislature • Fed Gov Bicameral House of Commons & Senate • Provinces had single legislative house • Canada would have 2 official languages • Canada would have a Prime Minister • Goal to Build a transcontinental RR • Still be connected to the British Crown

27. Discuss • How is this similar to our government and how is it diferent.

29. Order of Confederation • The Canadian provinces and territories joined Confederation in the following order. • Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick -1867, Manitoba, Northwest Territories - 1870, British Columbia – 1871, P.E.I. – 1873, Yukon – 1898, Alberta, Saskatchewan – 1905, Newfoundland – 1949, Nunavut – 1999.