Causes of Confederation

War and Expansionism in the US

• US Civil War (1861-65) – North vs South

• North was anti-slavery and South was for slavery

North Vs South

War and Expansionism in the US

• Britain had supported the South

(cotton for textiles)

•Because of this, Britain thought the North would attack Canada in retaliation

•Also, many Americans believed in Manifest Destiny ( Manifest Destiny- belief that the US had the right to take over the whole of N.America)

Fenians• Irish Catholics who lived in the US and were committed to freeing Ireland from British rule (10,000 members army vets)

•Made plans to attack the BNA as

it was the closest place to attack

Britain

•If they captured Canada they

could then force Britain to free Ireland

Fenians

• April 1866 – Fenians attacked New Brunswick (lost b/c local people fought)

•May 1866 – planned to invade Canada East, along

the St.Lawrence and Niagara

- 1500 Fenians crossed the border and captured Fort Erie (6 dead 30wounded)

- Fenians were eventially pushed back

Fenians• No real threat of any more raids after the 1890s.

•BC felt threatend in 1870-80s and had warships ready

•There was a great deal of anger in Canada with the U.S.

•President Andrew Johnson may have given his blessing to the early raids

“We are the Fenian Brotherhood, skilled in the arts of war, And we're going to fight for Ireland, the land we adore, Many battles we

have won, along with the boys in blue, And we'll go and capture Canada, for we've nothing else to do.” –- Fenian soldier's song

Trouble with Trade• Before 1846 Britain had been allowing wheat and flour from BNA with a low low tax (“preference”)

•1846 decided to end “preference” for BNA and allow Free Trade (goods from any country- no tax)

• 1854 Reciprocity agreement with US(Reciprocity- let some goods in without tariffs/taxes)

•Reciprocity ended for BNA in 1866 as US was unhappy with Britain supporting the South

Trouble with Trade

•BNA’s main trading partners disappeared

•What would you do?

•This idea was used to promote Confederation by Macdonald and Galt

The Need for Railways• In order to have trade b/w the colonies railways were needed

•Built the Grand Trunk Railway (CW to Halifax)

•Very Expensive

•Affordable if the colonies united (share costs)

•Quicker communications, business and defense

The Grand Trunk Railway

Changing British Attitudes• End of “preference” the colonies were strapped for

cash (needed trade)

• BNA put tariffs on foreign goods (2 reasons-why?)

• Angered Britain as it made British goods more expensive in the colonies

• Little Englanders – small group of British people who wanted to get rid of the colonies (too costly)

Political Deadlock In U.P. of Canada

• After responsible government, governments were very short lived

• 1854-1864 there were 10 different governments!!!

In the United Province of Canada

• Several equal groups in the assembly, and they basically cancelled out any advantage one group might have over others

Political Deadlock In U.P. of Canada

• Canada West

• Canada East

Bleus George-Étienne Cartier 

RougesA. A. Dorion 

Tories (Conservatives)John A. Macdonald 

Grits (Liberals) George Brown 

Political Deadlock In U.P. of Canada

• No one could win in government

• George Brown believed that to break political deadlock Canada West larger population should be given more members in the legislative assembly (ie more political power to CW less to CE)

• Brown demand “REP BY POP”(Representation by Population)

Political Deadlock In U.P. of Canada• Macdonald agreed and formed the “GREAT

COALITION” (Coalition- a political alliance of two or more political parties who agree to vote together in parliament)

“THE GREAT COALITION”

Tories (Conservatives)

John A. Macdonald 

Grits (Liberals) George Brown 

Bleus George-Étienne

Cartier 

I. Maritime Union (end)

1. Many in Canada wanted colonies to unite— become free of British rule

2. Movement to join 4 Atlantic colonies into a Maritime Union separate from other colonies

3. Many wanted to stay British subjects

4. French Canadians feared end of the separate identity and right

There are basically 6 major reasons as to why the BNA colonies formed a confederation. The 6 reasons have been provided in this set of notes. You are to create a graphic organizer (a visual web) that will help you remember these 6 reasons for Confederation. Use Microsoft Word and the AutoShapes tools to help you with this assignment. A sample web is provided below.

Assignment 1

Quebec Conference• Leaders from the Province of Canada,

the Maritime colonies and Newfoundland came together to talk about Confederation. They met in Quebec City in October 1864 to create a document called the Quebec Resolutions.

• After this conference each colony brought these resolutions back to its legislative assembly to be voted on. Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland turned down the agreement.

• The decisions they came to were called the Quebec Resolutions.

• Although Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland both took part, after the conference they both decided not to join Confederation at that time.

Fathers of Confederation

Assignment 2 BNA ACT - 1867The BNA Act outlines the powers of the federal and provincial governments. Create a two-column organizer with the headings “Federal Powers” and “Provincial Powers.” Place the items below in the correct columns. Use your notes, textbook & internet for help.

•Defense•Education•Mines and forests•Fisheries•Customs duties•Criminal law•Property rights

•Banks•Taxation•Licensing of businesses•Immigration•Trade•Foreign affairs•Aboriginal affairs

1. QuestionsWhich government received the greatest powers? Why?Do you agree this division of powers was a good one? Explain

I. Charlottetown Conference 1864

1. Conference called to discuss Maritime union

2. Political leaders from Canada crashed the event and pressed for a larger Confederation

3. Second conference held at Quebec in fall to draw up rules for Confederation

4. Rules partly became BNA Act

London Conference• The last of the three Confederation

Conferences. • It took place in London, England in

December of 1866. • At this conference leaders from the

Province of Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia turned the rough draft of the Quebec Resolutions into the British North America Act.

• Once this was done Canada officially became a country on July 1, 1867.

Definitions

• Manifest Destiny — a belief among many post-American Civil War politicians that the U.S. was destined to control North America and this notion was backed up by God. Manifest means “apparent” or “understood”.

• Reciprocity--Free trade between countries where goods can be traded without tariffs (import taxes)

• Expansionism--the policy of expanding the territorial base (or economic influence) of a country, usually by means of military force; empire building

• Preferential Trade--is a trading pact which gives special access to certain products from certain countries. This is done by reducing tariffs, but does not remove them completely.

• Political deadlock --a situation where little or no bills or legislation can be passed in Parliament because no one government has the majority to pass the bills. Creates a situation where government stops working.