Canada's Confederation: Uniting for Prosperity and Security

3. 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)

4. What will become of the BNA colonies? • All 5 colonies had earned responsible government, yet they still had political problems • Add in growing economic concerns and people were looking toward a new future for BNA

5. How did the idea come about? • Remember back: Lord Durham had proposed this as a solution to the rebellions 25 years prior! • Politicians in the Province of Canada took the lead “The scheme as a whole was met with almost universal approval” – John A. Macdonald Not so fast John A!

6. Reasons against Confederation • Loss of independence • No attachment/connection between the 5 colonies • Loss of power for minorities • Cost • Trust in politicians • Didn’t want to assume others’ problems • Different needs/wants in each colony

7. But… 5 colonies couldn’t dismiss the idea altogether. • They had political, social, geographic, and economic challenges • There were internal and external threats that were endangering the existence of BNA.

8. Reasons for Confederation • US Civil War • American Expansionism • Fenian raids • British trade policy • Reciprocity with U.S. ends • Railway needs • British economic support fades

9. American Civil War, 1861-1865 • Britain supported South • 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

10. 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 • Concerns of annexation of Rupert’s Land, Colony of Vancouver Island, and the Colony of BC

11. Fenian Raids • Fenians were American Irish who despised Britain • Fenians raided colonies along border • Settled in U.S. to escape British control in Ireland • Most were ex-civil war soldiers • Sought to free Ireland of British rule by capturing BNA colonies • U.S. government turned blind eye to raids

12. 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 • In 1854, BNA entered into RECIPROCITY TREATY with U.S. for 10 years • U.S. ended treaty in 1865, BNA colonies suffered

13. Need for Rail Links • 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 • Expensive and nearly went bankrupt • Solution was uniting to share costs • Railway would improve communication and trade link • Increase security and defense of BNA

14. British Economic Support Fades • Britain looked at BNA colonies as great expense • Defense costs huge • Wanted colonies to pay own way and become independent • New attitude came at time of Fenian raids and U.S. westward expansion

15. George Brown John A. Macdonald Political Deadlock • United Canada in 1860 had severe political deadlock • As per the Act of Union 1841, government members were elected based on equal representation • Calls for “rep by pop” • For a bill to become law in the Province of Canada, it had to be passed by both Canada West and Canada East: this was called double majority • Government and opposition nearly even number of seats • Impossible to pass bills in Assembly or make new laws • Government ground to halt

16. Key government players in Canada West John A. Macdonald – leader of the Conservative Party George Brown – leader of the Clear Grits Conservative Party “Tories” -most popular party in CW -believed in a British system of government -opposed to change Clear Grits “Liberals” -defended English Canada interests -disliked French and Catholics -wanted more democracy = “rep by pop” -wanted reform (change)

17. Key government players in Canada East George Etienne Cartier – leader of the Parti Bleus A.A. Dorion – leader of the Parti Rouge Parti Bleus -most powerful political group in CE -favoured co-operation between English and Canadiens -wanted economic development of CE, protection of French rights, culture, and religion Parti Rouge -supported the rights of French Canadiens -opposed English commercial interests in CE -wanted reform (change)

18. 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.

19. Another key government player – "Loose Fish" • There were also a large number of “loose fish”, politicians who sat as Independents and were not affiliated with a political party • They held the balance of power in the Legislative Assembly: they would ‘throw’ their vote to the party that could win Alexander Galt was an influential Independent (aka “loose fish”)

20. The 4 political parties had to form coalitions with each other and with “loose fish” in order to gain power in government. These coalitions were unstable and could quickly change from day to day. • Between 1862 and 1864, 5 governments attempted to govern the Province of Canada. During this time, one such government was only in power for 24 hours! Most do not last longer than a few months. • The people of the Province of Canada were tired of having elections: it was becoming costly and no laws were being passed.

21. The Deadlock is Broken • In 1864, a solution was found to political deadlock within the government of the Province of Canada • Brown (Clear Grits), Macdonald (Conservatives), Cartier (Parti Bleus), and Galt (Independent) joined forces to create the Great Coalition • The Great Coalition was committed to making government work in the Province of Canada • They were also interested in forming a federal union with the Maritime colonies

22. Maritime Union (end) • Many in Canada wanted colonies to unite— become free of British rule • Movement to join 4 Atlantic colonies into a Maritime Union separate from other colonies • Many wanted to stay British subjects • French Canadians feared end of the separate identity and right

23. 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.

24. Fathers of Confederation

25. Fathers of Confederation John A. Macdonald George-Etienne Cartier Joseph Howe Charles Tupper Samuel Tilley Joseph Smallwood James Pope

26. Charlottetown Conference 1864 • Conference called to discuss Maritime union • Political leaders from Canada crashed the event and pressed for a larger Confederation • Second conference held at Quebec in fall to draw up rules for Confederation • Rules partly became BNA Act

27. 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. • Once this was done Canada officially became a country on July 1, 1867.

28. Canada becomes a country On July 1, 1867, the country of Canada (Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick) came into existence

29. Definitions • Manifest Destiny— a belief among many post-American Civil War politicians that the U.S. was destined to control North America and this notion was backed up by God. Manifest means “apparent” or “understood”. • Reciprocity--Free trade between countries where goods can be traded without tariffs (import taxes) • Expansionism--the policy of expanding the territorial base (or economic influence) of a country, usually by means of military force; empire building • Preferential Trade--is a trading pact which gives special access to certain products from certain countries. This is done by reducing tariffs, but does not remove them completely. • Political deadlock--a situation where little or no bills or legislation can be passed in Parliament because no one government has the majority to pass the bills. Creates a situation where government stops working