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Confederation Lecture Vocabulary

Confederation

Essential Question

  • Why and how was the Dominion of Canada established as a confederation of British colonies in 1867?

Enduring Understandings

  • The history of governance in Canada is characterized by a transition from Indigenous self-government through French/British colonial rule to a self-governing confederation of provinces and territories.
  • Canada’s parliamentary system is based on the rule of law, representative democracy, and constitutional monarchy.
  • The role of government and the division of powers and responsibilities are constantly being negotiated.
  • French/English duality is rooted in Canada’s history and is a constitutionally protected element of Canadian society.
  • British cultural traditions and political institutions shape Canadian identity and history.
  • Links to the USA continue to be important factors in Canada’s development.

Challenges Facing British North America (BNA)

  • Act of Union (1841): United the two Canadas (Canada West and Canada East) and gave equal representation in the elected assembly.
  • This eventually led to political deadlock.

Act of Union Details

  • Canada West had 450,000 people and elected 42 members to the legislature (approximately 10,700 people per member).
  • Canada East had 650,000 people and also elected 42 members to the legislature (approximately 15,500 people per member).

Political Deadlock

  • Definition: A situation where government decisions cannot be made because each side blocks the other from advancing any agenda.

Canada West

  • By 1861, Canada West had almost 300,000 more people than Canada East.
  • George Brown (from Canada West) advocated for representation based on population, known as "Rep by Pop."
  • "Rep by Pop" was the political stance of Canada West. Canada East saw this as a threat of assimilation.

Forming New Alliances

  • George-Etienne Cartier (from Canada East) and John A. Macdonald (from Canada West) began working together to control Canada.
  • They opposed Brown’s ideas.

Toward Confederation

  • Brown, Cartier, and Macdonald realized that the Act of Union highlighted French/British duality rather than uniting the colonies.
  • They began working together toward Confederation.

Confederation

  • Definition: A political union of the colonies.

Economic and Geographic Challenges

  • The Province of Canada was too vast to manage effectively.
  • Advocates began discussing the construction of a railroad to connect all the colonies.

Trade and Financial Challenges

  • 1840: Britain no longer gave British North America's trade goods special treatment.
  • Corn Laws: These laws had lowered duties on wheat and grain coming from British colonies.
  • 1846: The Corn Laws were repealed.
  • Canadian wheat and flour became more expensive to import, and exports dropped by 60%.

Recession

  • The Province of Canada was thrown into a recession (a period of economic decline).
  • Canadians began to desire their own markets rather than solely exporting goods overseas.
  • There was a growing sentiment for colonies to work with each other instead of only with Britain.

Linking the Colonies: Railway

  • A transport system was needed to link the colonies.
  • This would facilitate the transport of raw materials from the west to manufacturing centers in the east.
  • It would also support settlements throughout Canada, particularly westward expansion.

Railway Costs

  • Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Canada all had their own railroads and associated debt.
  • Expansion would require the colonies to work together.

American Civil War

  • 1861-1865: Southern states declared their secession (withdrawal) from the USA and formed the Confederate States of America.
  • This war was fought over issues such as slavery and decision-making power.
  • The USA government rejected the secession and declared it an act of rebellion.
  • 1865: The war ended with the North (Union States) defeating the South.

Aftermath of American Civil War

  • French and British colonies claimed neutrality during the war.
  • The British textile industry was booming and needed cotton, which was primarily produced in the southern states.
  • 1862: Union ships attempted to block shipments of cotton headed to Britain (blockade runner).
  • British entities built ships to help smuggle cotton out of the South.
  • This fueled American/British tensions.

Trent Affair

  • 1861: An American warship stopped the British mail ship Trent, which was returning to Britain with two Confederates.
  • Americans took the Confederates prisoner despite the ship being in neutral waters.
  • Britain threatened retaliation.
  • President Abraham Lincoln freed the prisoners.

Trent Affair: Aftermath

  • Some Americans wanted to retaliate against Britain through its colonies.
  • British dispatched 14,000 troops to Canada.
  • Ineffective transport system caused delays.
  • The USA did not attack.

St. Alban’s Raid

  • 1864: Confederate soldiers attacked St. Alban’s, Vermont, using Montreal as a base.
  • The attackers fled back to Canada to avoid persecution.
  • British officials arrested and then released them.
  • Union soldiers were furious and threatened to attack.

USA Expansionism: Manifest Destiny

  • Manifest Destiny: The belief that the USA was destined, by God, to control North America.
  • This idea was very popular throughout America during the 1840s.
  • People believed that the USA should consider annexing British North America.

Expansionism

  • 1845: Annexation (incorporation of foreign territory into one’s own) of Texas, which still belonged to Mexico.
  • 1846-1848: Mexican/American War.
  • USA acquired California and New Mexico for 15 million.

Fenian Raids

  • 1859: An Irish brotherhood called the Fenians in the USA promoted Irish liberation from British control.
  • They wanted to capture British North American colonies in exchange for Ireland in a ransom.
  • 1866-1871: Attacks against New Brunswick, Canada West, and Manitoba.
  • The colonies needed unity and defense.

The End of Reciprocity

  • 1854: Economic influence and USA pressure urged Britain to agree to a Reciprocity Treaty.
  • This treaty established free trade on timber, grain, coal, livestock, and fish.
  • 1866: Britain canceled the Reciprocity Treaty.
  • The intent was to damage the BNA economy and force the colonies into a union.
  • This further emphasized the importance of centralizing the economy WITHIN the colonies.

British Support for Confederation

  • Britain wanted British North America to be financially responsible for itself.
  • This would decrease the burden on British taxpayers.
  • Britain welcomed the idea of confederation.
  • They thought the relationship with the USA would improve without the colony.
  • Britain offered low-interest loans for railway development.