Confederation Introduction

In 1763 (The Conquest)- Britain defeated France and the Royal Proclamation of 1763 declared all Britain’s territory in North America

In 1783, the United States won its independence from Britain Britain lost all of the original 13 territories and the Ohio River Valley Oregon treaty extended the border along the 49 th parallel

1841- Act of Union united Upper Canada and Lower Canada into one colony: the Province of Canada

British Held Territory: The West Coast Both Britain and the US had laid claim to the Pacific Northwest during the 1820s and 1830s Oregon Treaty came into law Set the US-Canada border at the 49 th Parallel British officials tried to forestall further American presence in the region by requiring the HBC to establish a colony in the region. Colony of Vancouver Island was declared in 1849 and the colony of British Columbia was founded in 1858

Rupert’s Land Exclusive commercial domain of the Hudson’s Bay Company After the decline of the fur trade, people began looking at the West differently Home to a large number of Aboriginal peoples and the Metis (mixed European and Aboriginal heritage) Pressure to annex Rupert’s land into the dominion before the US had a chance to do the same

5 Colonies of BNA Province of Canada (Canada East and Canada West) New Brunswick Nova Scotia Prince Edward Island Newfoundland Each colony had a separate legislature and governor and reported to the British government with little interaction between the provinces.

Differences Colony- A body of people living in a new territory but retaining ties with the parent state Territory- A geographic area belonging to or under the jurisdiction of a governmental authority Province- A territory governed as an administrative or political unit of a country (more power than territories) Dominion- Realms and territories under the sovereignty of the British crown (status maintained until 1931)