HIST 261 - Lesson 3

What is the province of Canada?

Includes both Canada East (French, Roman Catholic) and Canada West (British, not Catholic). Created by the act of union merging colonies of upper and lower Canada.

Why did Nova Scotia and New Brunswick view themselves as different than the rest of Canada?

Did fishing, timber and shipbuilding. NS oriented to trade along the Atlantic coast.

Why did PEI view themselves as different than the rest of Canada?

Had Land holding as the major issue

Why did Newfoundland view themselves as different than the rest of Canada?

Divisions of religion and socio-economics

Why did the province of Canada want Confederation?

Desire for change in political systems

• The challenge of the double majority

• Representation by population

• Costs of railways ( we had debt from here and thought if we joined tg it would be less to pay)

Who was in the Grand Coalition

Macdonald, Brown and Cartier made the case for confederation

What is the double majority?

means a decision needs support from two groups, not just one. In Canada, this can mean getting a majority of people and a majority of provinces to agree.

Factors pointing to coalition in the maritimes

Economic problems, high railway costs, and the end of free trade with the U.S. in 1866. However, many people initially preferred a Maritime union rather thanjoining all of Canada.

PEI absentee meaning

Much of the land was owned by absentee landlords who lived in Britain. PEI residents were mostly renters, and many landlords didn’t pay their taxes properly.

Why did the British want confederation?

They wanted to save money on defence and have Canada better able to defend itself. The Fenian movement also threatened British colonies in Canada, so Confederation would help protect them.

Fenian movement

A movement fighting for Irish independence from Britain. Some Fenians in the U.S. planned to attack British colonies in Canada to hurt Britain.

Why was the US seen as a threat and rival?

Canada feared the U.S. might take control of western lands like Alberta andB.C. The U.S. was also encouraging settlers to move west, increasing pressure on Canadian territory.