Transcript History 30 - 205 - Confederation in a Nut Shell

1840 - 1867
Confederation in a Nut Shell
The Colony of Canada
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The colony of Canada was divided into two
provinces
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Upper Canada
Lower Canada
Each province had equal representation in the
Legislative Assembly resulting in political
deadlock
A coalition developed between the Tories and
the Parti Bleu
The Colony of Canada
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John A. Macdonald and George Etienne
Cartier were able to form a government
The “loose fish” were able to carry the balance
of the votes and cause governments to fall with
great frequency
George Brown of the Reform Party advocated
“rep by pop”
“rep by pop” was not popular in Lower Canada
Economics
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The Corn Laws protected Canadian industries
by giving them preferential treatment in
Britain
When the Corn Laws were repealed the
Canadians had to find a new market for goods
They turned to the United States and signed
the Treaty of Reciprocity
Economics
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The United States ended reciprocity because of
weakening Anglo-American relations (Trent Affair)
and a belief that Canada received all of the benefits
Corn Laws
Reciprocity
Trouble
Threats
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The Americans believed in Manifest Destiny
and thought that they would annex British
North America
British North Americans had no desire to join
the Union – for the most part
Some felt betrayed by Britain
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Corn Laws
British support of the Confederate States
Lets Talk About Confederation
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At the Charlottetown Conference Canadian
delegates introduced the idea of union between
all of British North America
No details were discussed but the general
consensus was that confederation would be
desirable
The delegates met again in Quebec
Lets Talk About Confederation
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The Quebec conference was one of great
compromise
The delegates each got something that they
desired but no one’s view dominated the
finished proposal
Because the delegated were not acting
officially they had no way to institute their
plan
Confederation
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Confederation was only popular in Canada at
first
Britain let it be known that it supported the
idea
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia rejected the
deal but fear of the Fenian Raids and an ending
of Reciprocity left them with no alternative
Confederation
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On July 1, 1867
The British North America Act formally joined
the colonies of Canada, New Brunswick, and
Nova Scotia
The country was called the Dominion of
Canada