Confederation CA History 30S

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Reasons for confederation

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Trade & Financial Challenges: - Britain no longer gives BNA trades goods special treatment. Exports dropped by 60% \n \n Recession: Canadians began to want their own markets vs. exporting goods overseas. \n \n Linking the Colonies (via railway): transport raw materials from west to manufacturing in the east. \n \n Railway Costs: - NS, NB and Canada all had their own railroads and debt. Expansion would require colonies to work together.

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Political Deadlock (Rep by pop)

 

\- George Brown (CW) advocates for representation based on population. \n - "Rep by pop" - political stance of CW. \n - CE saw this as a threat of assimilation.

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John A. Macdonald, George Etienne Cartier, George Brown + Great coalition

In 1864, Brown, Carter and MacDonald formed the great coalition with the goal to create union of all BNA colonies

George Etienne Cartier

leader of the Parti Bleu/ Canada East.

John A. Macdonald

The leader of clear grits/ Canada West

D'Arcy McGee

\- was a politician and a strong supporter of confederation \n - was originally from ireland \n - called for construction of a new nationality through the unification of BNA. lobbies for construction of railroads \n - WAS CANADA'S FIRST ASSASSINATION

American Civil War

\- 1861-1865: Southern states declared their secession (withdrawal) from USA and formed Confederate States of America. \n - Fought over issues of slavery, decision making power. \n - USA gov't rejects the secession and declares it an act of rebellion. \n - 1865: War ends, North (Union States) defeats the South.

Trent affair

\- 1861: American warship stops British mail ship Trent, retuning to Britain with 2 Confederates. \n - Americans take Confederates prisoner despite ship in neutral waters. \n - Britain threatened retaliation. \n - President Abraham Lincoln freed prisoners.

St. Alban's Raid

\- 1864: Confederate soldiers attack St. Alban's, Vermont using Montreal as a base. \n - Attackers fled back to Canada to avoid persecution. \n - British officials arrested then released them. \n - Union soldiers were furious and threatened to attack.

Manifest Destiny/ Annexation

The belief USA was destined, by God, to control North America. \n - Very popular throughout America during the 1840s. \n - People believed that USA should look toward annexing BNA.

Reciprocity Treaty/ Significance of ending it

1854: Economic influence and USA pressure urged britain to sign a reciprocity treaty. Free trade on timber, wool, coal, etc.. \n \n 1866: Britain ended it hoping to damage BNA's economy and force them into union \n \n Britain gives support for confederation

Charlottetown Conference

held september 1864 in Charlottetown PEI to discuss the possibility of a maritime union. \n \n - reps from atlantic colonies came to hear what Canadians had to say. They were impressed with the arguments they gained from union. \n - maritime union ideas were dropped and there was agreement a wider union would benefit all colonies.

Quebec Conference

Held in October 1864, 33 delegates arrived \n - agreement that the union would be a federation \n - central government would be made up of a HoC and senate \n resulted: 72 resolutions \n - each delegate had to return to their colony and get support for this plan

London conference

1866 confederation delegates from CW, CE, Ns, Nb met in London to discuss presented constitution known as BNA Act to british government \n \n - act was passed \n - Queen Victoria signed on March 29, 1867 \n - effective July 1st "Dominion of Canada" came into existance

Atlantic colonies' interests/reasons for some opposition to confederation

\- they were concerned bc they had a small population, they would have little influence in a united parliament \n - instead interested in a maritime union

Pros and Cons of Joining Confederation (know reasons and perspectives for 2-3 colonies)

Canada East: PRO:

* The province would retain control of its language, religion, education, and civil law.

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New Brunswick: ANTI:

* N.B had more economic ties to the US than to the province of CA.

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Novia Scotia: ANTI

* Believed they would loose their identity.

British North America Act- Dominion of Canada July 1st

Queen Victoria Signed the BNA act on March 29th, 1867 \n - effective July 1st, the dominion of canada came into existence \n - the "dream" took a long time to be realized

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Indigenous perspective of BNA Act

left out of discussions/ plans for confederation: not consulted \n \n \n Royal Proclamation- what was transferred: \n \n - treaties used for land settlement \n - britain would assist in disputes between europeans and indigenous \n - specific relationship between british and indigenous (canadian gov. would take on) \n \n Responsibilities of government: no indigenous "fathers of confederation." Became responsibilities of government vs interests honoured \n \n Enfranchisement Act: 1869 goal was to assimilate indigenous peoples \n \n to have the right to vote, indigenous peoples had to be: \n - 21 years old \n - male \n - literate (english/ french) \n - free of debt \n - LOSE INDIGENOUS STATUS

Canadian Federalism entails

we are a federalist government, have a constitutional monarchy, use a parliamentary system, have a HoC, snate, prime minister \n \n \*don't need to know what each role does, just that this is what we have as a federal system of government

2 Primary problems with BNA Act

1\. no arrangements were made for revisions without Britain \n 2. Disagreements between federal and provincial government had to be settled in British courts (Judicial committee of the privy council) \n \n i.e. need mama Britain's approval to make changes and to solve problems