History - Pre-Confederation (BNA)

Covers Grade 8 History

What are the 7 main reasons leading up to confederation?

What are the 7 main reasons leading up to confederation?

• Political Deadlock

• Economic Problems

• Military/Threat of the Fenians

• British Change In Attitude

• Rupert’s Land

• Expansion of The Railroad

• Manifest Destiny/Threat of the Americans

Political Deadlock

• The Province of Canadas government was split in half so they couldn’t come to an agreement/make decisions

• British leaders wanted to assimilate the french people to adapt to british customs, ways of living, language and all

Economic Problems

• The reciprocity treaty (free trade) was canceled so their economy plummeted and they had to find newer trading partners

• They needed a way to sell their goods to eachother

Manifest Destiny/Threat of America

• The colonies thought America wanted to takeover and control all of NA (north america) for their power, land, resources and wealth

• Americans believed they were destined to be a great nation and that scared the BNA

• BNA also feared the American Civil war would spill onto their land

Military Problems/Threat of the Fenians

• The fenians led several raids across the boarder into these colonies, specifically New Brunswick

• Fenians wanted their own land that would be irish

Change in Great Britain’s Attitude

• Great Britain thought that due to the distance between the colonies they were becoming a burden

• They decided they didn’t want to pay for the military protection etc. so they encouraged them to

• join together

Expansion of the railroad

• due to the distance between colonies railways were needed to increase trade, transportation, defence, and communications

• Railroads would also help with expanding the west (if they joined together they could share the cost and build a railway from the Atlantic to the Pacific)

Expansion of Rupert’s Land

• farmland in canada was decreasing (specifically canada east, some canada west)

• Expansion would help with food availability, resources, and trade. (They could share the cost if they joined together.)

Confederation Definition

When a group of people or nations form an alliance for a common goal.

What are the 4 main colonies?

1. Atlantic colonies

2. Canada East

3. Canada West

4. Northwest/Pacific Coast

What were the Atlantic colonies main industry’s?

PEI - Agriculture

Newfoundland - Fishing

Nova Scotia - Coal Mines and Shipping

New Brunswick - Forestry and Shipbuilding

Atlantic Colonies