Chapter 3 - Confederation Investigated There were some serious factors to consider before deciding if Confederation was a right fit for each province. Important Factors to Consider -economy -population -political situation -leadership available -transportation What are the advantages and disadvantages of each???

Canada West In the mid 1800’s Canada West (Ontario) is a rich colony in farmland and forests. More that 80% of the people live in the rural areas, but the cities and towns are growing fast. But there are a few major problems; -men, woman and children work long hours in dangerous factory jobs. -there are no laws to protect these workers. -unemployment is high, especially in winter when construction jobs stop. -drunkenness, heavy drinking leads to violence and crime. -riots and street fights are common in Toronto.

Canada West Special Problems 1) Good farmland in Canada West is becoming scarce. Anyone who wants to start a farm has to go to the American west. 2) Political deadlock makes it impossible to get many bills passed through the assembly. 3) The population in Canada West is now greater than that of Canada East. People in Canada West want representation by population to gain a stronger voice. Many feel the existing government favours Canada East. 4) In the winter goods have to come through the U.S. A railway linking Canada West to the Maritimes would help with trade and defence. 5) The Fenians remain a constant threat to people’s security.

Map of Canada West

Canada East The rural farmer is the backbone of Canada East. Only 20% of the population lives in cities. Most farmers still live on strips of land set up during the seigneurial system. Montreal is the largest city. The are thousands of English who cannot speak French and there are thousands of French who cannot speak English. Some of the wealthiest people live in Montreal. Most are Scots who have made their fortunes in iron, steel works, flour mills, steamship lines and timber.

Canada East Special Problems 1) Political deadlock. Nothing is getting done in either Canada East or West. Each accuse the other of always wanting things their way. 2) The loss of preferred markets in Britain means the colony must look elsewhere to sell its industrial and farm products. 3) In any union of the colonies the French speaking people of Canada East will feel they are swamped by the English speaking majority. 4) Again when the St. Lawrence freezes, goods have to be transported on American railways. 5) There is a danger the Fenians will attack along the Canadian-American border south and east of Montreal.

Map of Canada East

New Brunswick Almost 90% of New Brunswick is forest. Lumber is the colony’s most valuable resource. Agriculture is developing and potatoes are a major product. Fishing is also and important industry. Special Problems 1) Railways cost a great deal of money to build. The British want to keep the railway away from the New Brunswick-American border, but that is where it’s needed most. 2) Many are worried the Fenians might attack New Brunswick. 3) The population of NB is small. With representation by population, New Brunswick would have little influence in Confederation. 4) Many hope to connect Saint John to Montreal with a railroad. Also they want one to connect them to Nova Scotia. 5) NB shares a long border with the U.S. Which it would have trouble defending if a war breaks out.

Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and an impressive center. The Halifax harbour never freezes and is home to the British navy in the west Atlantic. Good agricultural land is hard to find. Only 10% of the land is good for farming. Special Problems 1) They fear the new steamships will take all the business away from their sailing ships. 2) Since 1854 NS and the U.S. have enjoyed free trade with each other. 3) Most of NS trade is with Britain, the U.S. and West Indies. Very little trade with the other colonies. 4) They want a railway built between NS and the rest of the colonies for trade. 5) NS feels secure because they house the British navy.

Prince Edward Island Most of the forests have been cleared for farming. The islands rich soil is its major natural resource. 90% of the land is good for farming. Since its surrounded by water, its easy to get goods on and off the island. Special Problems 1) No farmer in PEI owns their land. All farms are owned by landlords in Britain. Each year they send their rent to Britain. Islanders want the British government to force the landlords to sell the land at fair prices. 2) During the winter, PEI is completely cut off from the mainland. 3) PEI is isolated. Even in summer it has little contact with other British colonies. 4) The population is small and they would have little influence in Confederation. 5) Ottawa seems a long way away from PEI. Islanders aren’t sure the decisions made will meet their needs. 6) A railway link wouldn’t work. 7) The British navy will protect the island during a war.

Newfoundland Most in the colonies know nothing of Newfoundland. No roads cross the island so to visit anyone you have to travel by boat. Newfoundland trades fish with Britain in exchange for manufactured goods and clothing. Special Problems 1) All through the 1800’s the fishing and seal hunting are bad. Many families are hopelessly in debt to merchants. By 1865, one-third of all money in the colony is spent to help the poor. 2) Since 1713 the French have been allowed to catch and dry fish on the west of the island. French warships are often seen off the coast and the Newfies wonder if the British will protect them. 3) Most Newfies do not want to lose their independence. Britain granted the island its own government in ) Ottawa would be too far away from Newfoundland to have much influence on government policies. 5) The cost of buying good from Canada would be higher than buying good from Britain because of the tariffs.

Confederation Discussed and Delayed

Confederation Conferences 1864 Confederation was achieved in 1867, but the groundwork started years before. In 1864 two conferences were held that changed the course of history for the British North American colonies.

The Charlottetown Conference In September 1864 the maritime colonies had organized a conference to discuss the possible union of their colonies. Delegates from the Province of Canada, including Sir John A. George Brown and Thomas D’Arcy McGee arrive with an ever bigger plan of uniting Canada with the maritime colonies. The Canadian delegates promise to build a railway connecting Canada to the maritimes. They discuss the advantages of free trade between the colonies.

The Charlottetown Conference They discuss how the maritime fish and coal would find a new market with the 3 million people living in the Canada’s The maritime delegates are impressed and interested in furthering the discussions. Another conference is agreed upon to be held in Quebec City during October.

The Charlottetown Conference

Location of the Charlottetown Conference

The Quebec Conference In October delegates from all the colonies gathered in Quebec City. There were; - 7 from New Brunswick - 7 from PEI - 5 from Nova Scotia - 2 from Newfoundland - 12 from Canada East - 12 from Canada West The politicians have to work out all the details of a plan for union. George Brown

The Quebec Conference All the Fathers of Confederation agree on one point. -The union must be a strong one that could not be broken by any one province. The central government must have great power. It must be more powerful in every way than the governments of the provinces. The plan worked out is known as the Seventy-Two Resolutions. James Cockburn

Harris Painting of the Quebec Conference 1864

Fathers of Confederation at the Quebec Conference

Key Points of the Seventy-Two Resolutions There would be a strong central (federal) government to look after the affairs affecting the whole country such as defense, trade and foreign affairs. Each province would have its own government to look after local matters. The system of government would follow the British Constitution and the head of government would be the queen or king of England. The federal government would be made up of an elected House of Commons and an appointed Legislative Council (Senate). Members in the House of Commons would be elected according to the principle of representation by population. Members of the Legislative Council would be appointed and each region would have 24 members. NFLD, NWT, BC and Vancouver would be allowed into the union as terms worked out.

Confederation Discussed and Delayed Now the Seventy- Two Resolutions had to be accepted by the government of each colony. Not all went according to plan. Hector Louis Langevin

Seesaw in New Brunswick In NB, Premier Leonard Tilley was staunch supporter of Confederation. Tilley called and election with Confederation as the main issue. Those opposed to Confederation (the anti-Confederationists) poked fun how low the subsidy from the federal government would be each year. On election day in 1865 the anti-confederationists won easily. This was a major blow as New Brunswick was the land link between Canada and the other provinces. Leonard Tilley did not give up. He spoke in every part of the colony highlighting the advantages of the union. His personal efforts helped to win people over to the side of Confederation.

Seesaw in New Brunswick Three other events helped to convince New Brunswickers that there could be no progress without Confederation. 1) The U.S. ended free trade with the British North American colonies. No longer would NB goods enter into the U.S. tax free. 2) The British government sent a message encouraging NB to join Confederation. 3) The Fenians attacked NB in The people were terrified as word spread the Fenians were assembling a large force. Small bands of Fenians did cross into the colony. John Hamilton Gray

Success in Canada West For over a month politicians debated the Quebec conference resolutions. Each politician was given the chance to speak. Some of the most effective speeches were given by George Brown and Sir John A. Macdonald. The people of Canada listened to their respected leaders and the resolutions were approved 91 to 33

Canada West delegates James Cockburn William McDougall Oliver Mowat

Success and Tragedy in Canada East There were bitter critics of the plan for Confederation. The new government would be based on representation by population and Canada East would be outnumbered in the new parliament. The leader of the Parti Rouge, A.A. Dorion argued they were being sold out. Most French speaking Canadians were eventually won over to the idea of Confederation by George-Etienne Cartier. He explained Confederation was a partnership and that if they did not join they would be swallowed by the United States. The Roman Catholic church added its voice in support of Confederation. The vote in the Assembly of Canada East and West went in favour of Confederation.

George-Etienne Cartier George-Etienne Cartier was a descendent of Jacques Cartier, the famous French explorer. He trained as a lawyer and in 1837 fought on the Patriote side in the Rebellion of Lower Canada. In 1848 Cartier was elected to the legislature of Canada. By 1856 he was the leader of the Parti Bleu (Conservatives in Canada East). He was probably the most important influence in persuading French Canadians to join Confederation.

Statute of George-Etienne Cartier on Parliament Hill

Canada East Delegates Alexander Galt Etienne P. Tache Thomas D’Arcy McGee Jean Charles Chapais

Assassination of Thomas D’Arcy McGee

Division in Nova Scotia In 1864 Charles Tupper became premier of NS. He was a supporter of Confederation. Opposition leaders, especially Joseph Howe were against the union. Tupper knew if he introduced the Seventy- Two Resolutions he would be defeated. He stalled for time by travelling through the colony to destroy the arguments of Howe and the anti-confederationists. Charles Tupper

Division in Nova Scotia About the same time word reached NS that the Fenian threat in New Brunswick. Many thought there was a real possibility that Nova Scotia would be next. Nova Scotia did eventually agree to join Confederation. Joseph Howe

Nova Scotia Delegates John W. Ritchie Robert B. Dickey

Rejection from Prince Edward Island PEI flatly rejected the Quebec resolutions. Islanders feared they would be swamped in the union. PEI’s population was smaller than the city of Montreal’s. PEI would only have 5 out of 194 members. They wanted a railway to link places on the island. They did not care about the mainland. There was no mention of buying out the British landlords. Not until the last minute, but it was too late. PEI did join Confederation but not until 1873.

Rejection from Newfoundland The premier, F.B.T. Carter was in favour of Confederation. But he could not convince the people. Newfoundlanders were very proud of their historic ties with Britain and the fact that they were Britain’s first overseas colony. Newfoundland would eventually join Confederation, but it took until 1949 for it to happen.