Issues Facing the Colonies of BNA

United they Stand Divided they …

Uniting the Colonies?

1. Economic2. Transportation3. Defence4. Political

Transportation

Canals, Lakes, Rivers, and Railways were used to transport goods to major ports. › then they could be shipped to Britain or

USA Large gaps existed in railway system

which prevented Intercolonial trade. Grand Trunk Railway

› If railways were extended from NS to Toronto then fish could get to markets

Manufactured goods to Nova Scotia

Passenger traffic would improve as well.

Large sums of $$ needed.

Railways

Banks in England would only lend money if colonies were united

They feel this is the safest way to get repayment on loans.

Colonies want to improve intercolonial trade BUT need money to complete railway

Banks want to secure their loans

Colonies joining together seemed like a requirement for completing the Intercolonial Railway

Defence Issues

BNA had defended itself in 1812 war against USA

However by the 1850s Britain began to pull its troops out of the colonies› $$$$$$$$$› They were also at war with Russia in the

Crimean. Too many colonies to have a coherent

defence strategy› SINGLE COUNTRY = better defence

Thin Red Line

The Fenians

Fenians were an Irish organization that used arms to try and gain independence from Britain

During Great Migration 2 million Irish came to North America.

Organized in Northern United States and supported by some USA politicians

Some small raids but overall, not real threat (Pigeon Hill) Assassination of Darcy McGee

US Civil War (1861-1865)

North (Union) V. South (Confederates) 1861- British Warship stopped by Union

warship and two confederates found on board.

Confederacy officials used Montreal, Toronto as bases to organize plots against the Union.

Clear by 1864 Union armies were going to win.

Civil War Con’t

Would the US want to settle score with BNA?

What to do with a standing army of 65 000 men (battled hardened)

Manifest Destiny: The Belief that the USA had a DUTY to take over the land of North America› This includes Mexico as well

Political Issues Affecting the Canadas

When the Canadas had been untied they were each given the same number of seats.

Equal Representation

Colony 1851 Census

1861 Census

Seats in Legislature

Canada East 890 261 1 111 566 65

Canada West 952 004 1 396 091 65

Political Issues

Representation by PopulationColony 1851 Census 1861 Census Seats in

Legislature

Canada East 890 261 1 111 566 65

Canada West 952 004 1 396 091 81

Three Important Politicians

George Brown (Canada West) J. A. Macdonald (Canada West) George-Etienne Cartier (Canada East)

George Brown

Leading supporter of REP by Pop

Owned the Globe, a leading Toronto Newspaper

Entered Politics in 1851

Great Speaker

George – Etienne Cartier

Lawyer from Montreal who entered politics in 1848

Opposed REP By POP Did not get along with

George Brown Basic argument was

that French peoples were already a Minority.

Feared English society would pass laws harmful to French Society

Joh

n A

. MacD

on

ald

Lawyer from Kingston › Had reputation for fairness and political Skill› Entered politics 1844.

Realized that Cartier wanted protection for French Canadians rights, language, customs.

Therefore, he saw that both Brown and Cartier could get what they wanted.

The Debate today?

What is Proportional Representation? P47

Who was left out

Women› Although some of their ideas might have

been brought up through their husbands

First Nations› Not British subjects› No ownership of land