 The Union Act of 1841  Upper and Lower Canada were united under one government  Equal representation in the Assembly  Upper Canada’s debt was pooled with Lower Canada’s much smaller debt  English would be the only official language of government

 What does that mean?  A confederation is a group of people or organizations brought together for a common purpose  What came together to form Canada?  A number of colonies  They became provinces  Stronger yet – A NATION!  What kind of government resulted?  Two levels of government with a division of powers:  Provincial – weak  Federal – strong

1. War and expansionism in the U.S 2. Fenian (Irish-American veterans) raids 3. British trade policy 4. Mutual Exchange (reciprocity) with U.S. ends 5. Need for Railway 6. British economic support fades

 Britain claimed neutrality during the American Civil War (1861 – 1865)  In reality, they supported the Southern Confederacy  Southern soldiers stage raids on Northern states out of Canada  British North America fear retaliation by Northern U.S. to get back at Britain

 Manifest Destiny – a belief among many post-American Civil War politicians that the U.S. was destined to control North American and this notion was backed by God. Manifest means “apparent” or “understood”.  Was promoted by some in the U.S.  God directed right to take over all of North America  1867 – U.S. purchased Alaska from Russia ($26 million)  American settlers, railways, trade pressing West and surrounding Red River settlement  Gold Rush in BC drawing thousands of Americans into colony

 Before 1845, British North America colonies had favored trade with Britain  Preferential Trade – a trading post which gives special access to certain products from certain countries. This is done by reducing tariffs, but does not remove them completely  In 1846, Britain ended preference and now allowed goods from all countries without charging taxes  Caused financial pressure on colonies  In 1854, British North America entered into Reciprocity Treaty – free trade between countries where goods can be traded without tariffs (import taxes)  U.S. ended treaty in 1865  British North America Colonies suffered

 Trade among colonies needed rail system  In 1850, only 106 km of line existed  Most of rail business going to Americans  Colonists sought to build own rail lines  Between 1850 – 1867, km of line was added  Grand Trunk Railway wanted to join Canada West to Halifax  Expensive and nearly went bankrupt  Solution was uniting to share costs  Railway would improve communication and trade  Increase security and defense of British North America

 Britain looked at British North America colonies as a huge expense  Defense is expensive  Wanted colonies to pay own way and become independent  New attitude came at time of Fenian raids and U.S. westward expansion

 United Canada in 1860 had severe 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.  Government and opposition have almost the same number of seats  Government was on pause

 The province of Canada (Quebec and Ontario) consisted of two opposing forces  Conservatives (English Canadians)  Canada West – John A. Macdonald’s “Liberal Conservative Party”  Canada East – George Etienne Cartier’s parti blue  Reformers: (French Canadians)  Canada West – George Brown’s Reform Party  Canada East – Antoine-Aime Dorion’s parti rouge

John A. Macdonald George-Etienne Cartier George Brown Antoine-Aime Dorion

 In total, there were 36 original ‘Fathers of Confederation’ including the key figures mentioned in the previous slides.

 September 1 – 9, 1864  In the spring, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI were contemplating the possibility of Maritime Union.  This interest sparked the Charlottetown Conference  Representatives from UC and LC attended the conference  A conclusion was made – this idea of a union warranted discussion  So, more meetings

 Canadian delegation proposed the following foundations for a new country  Preservation of ties with Great Britain  Residual jurisdiction left to a central authority  A bicameral system including a Lower House with representation by population and an Upper House with representation based on regional, rather than provincial  Equality  Responsible government at the federal and provincial levels, and  The appointment of a governor general by the British Crown