Confederation

Challenges Facing Soon-To-Be Canada Political Challenges Economic Challenges & Geographic Challenges Territory Challenges & Trade Challenges Britain’s gentle Nudge

Political Challenges The government was awful because Canada West & Canada East continued to block/veto each other’s decisions In 1861: Canada West had just about as many as Canada East George Brown (politician) wanted a “Rep by Pop” Which would benefit Canada West There were still more people there

Political Challenges John A. Macdonald (Canada West) & George-Etienne Cartier (Canada East) worked together to disallow this proposition made by Brown All 3 of them realized that they would not get anywhere and the Act of Union was not working Remember: Act of Union united the Colonies of Upper and Lower Canada

Economic & Geographic Challenges Britain always gave itself preferential treatment when it came to the economy. Corn Laws: Placed a lower import tax on wheat and grains coming to Britain from British Colonies This was repealed in 1846 Now BNA had to compete with other countries Put BNA into an economic recession BNA began to look internally to trade their goods

Plan for the Future How do you think the Canadian colonies established trade links with one another? What form of transportation was used to move these goods? Cost.

Territory & Trade Challenges: American Civil War 1861-1865 Several Southern States “withdrew” from the Northern States, forming the Confederate States of America Slave laws played a big part in the war Britain and France played no part in this war Although Britain was involved in the cotton business in the south. The Union (North US) tried to block the ships from going to Britain but the British made ships called blockade runners This increased tension between the USA and Britain

American Civil War https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY9zHNOjGrs

Territory & Trade Challenges: Manifest Destiny Fear that USA thought that Britain sided with the Confederate South, feared that the US would become and enemy Manifest Destiny: Belief that the USA was destined, by God, to control all of North America Created by and American reporter John O’ Sullivan God is a powerful motivator

Territory & Trade Challenges: End of Reciprocity 1854: USA & BNA agreed to a reciprocity agreement allowing free trade between the two Lumber, grain, coal, livestock, and fish 1866: This agreement was cancelled, cutting the ties between the two USA hoped by ending this agreement, it would cripple the economy of British North America, forcing them to join the States What will soon be Canada, just lost trade agreements with two major partners in the past 20 years

Britain’s Gentle Nudge After the 1840s, Britain no longer saw their colonies as a benefit to their empire By 1860s, Britain wanted North America to assume more responsibility of their own finances Less of a burden on British taxpayers Thank goodness she is leaving….

Britain’s Gentle Nudge Felt it would help their relationship with USA if BNA was independent It was too much work to manage BNA relationship with the USA as well as Britain’s Little baby Canada

Finding Political Solutions John A. Macdonald, George Brown, & George-Etienne Cartier all came together to form The Great Coalition Their goal was to create a union of all British North America Colonies Atlantic colonies were skeptical about confederation because their small numbers would lead to a lack of voice in government Thought about a Maritime Union A combining of all the maritime provinces to create a bigger entity New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island

The Charlottetown Conference Macdonald was able to persuade the Maritime provinces to be in favour of the idea of uniting Civil War threat from the USA was less if they were all together Centralized government Take on the debts of the maritime provinces Big deal because the railroad costs a lot

The Quebec Conference Oct. 1864: meeting in Quebec to discus the confederation of colonies All agreed to keep some British ties and to have a Federal government Which means there would be more than one level Federal: Oversee the needs of the entire region Provincial: Look after specific regional concerns Agreed on a house of commons where they would meet Drafted 72 resolutions on how the country would be run

British North America Act After a couple years of debate, the BNA Act was officially signed on March 29, 1867. This declared that the provinces would be unified under the name Dominion of Canada Was to take effect on July 01, 1867. Consisted of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick PEI and NFLD delegates did not attend this conference and were still against confederation

The New Canadian Government The dominion of Canada was influenced by both Britain and the USA for their government Britain: Centralized government that oversaw everything (Federal) USA: Federal as well as a localized government to represent each state (Provincial) Federal Government still had the ultimate say

The New Canadian Government: Constitutional Monarchy King or Queen of Britain is Canada’s head of state (final authority) However, Canada created a Governor General who acts on behalf of the King or Queen The governor gives all the laws or bills, their Royal Assent Which means seal of approval

The New Canadian Government: The Parliamentary System Parliament would have a House of Commons (HoC) Members were elected by the general population Only men were able to vote at the time of confederation The Senate was in charge of regional interests Knowledgeable and experienced group to carefully review bills passed by the HoC Senate and HoC are in charge of appointing a Prime Minister and their cabinet (advisors to the Prime Minister) This group has all the power