1. British North America in the Mid – 1800’s

2. Imagine you wanted to plan a trip to Vancouver
Imagine you wanted to plan a trip to Vancouver. Around 1850, the quickest way to make the trip would be so sail a ship around the coast of South America – a journey that would take months. Even going from Toronto to St. John’s could take weeks. The political map of Canada was much different back then as well - in the 1850’s Canada was not even called Canada. It was land that was made up of 7 British Colonies, one British Government Territory and two large areas controlled by the Hudson’s Bay Company. These areas had very little to do with one another – they took part in little trade and the populations were very small.
Why might such remote colonies consider forming a united country?

5. Who Were the People of Pre-Canada?
Population of the GTA 2008 – about 5 million
Population of BNA 1861 – 3.2 million
People of French origin were in the East
The West and Maritimes were predominantly British
The Prairies were mainly First Nations and Métis with a few French and British Fur Traders
British Columbia was mainly British and American (Gold Rush)

6. Why Did People Come to Canada?
The Great Migration
In the 1830’s and 40’s poverty and food shortages drove thousands of people to emigrate from Europe to Canada. This resulted in an increased ethnic diversity of British North America (BNA). Germans, Dutch, Irish (Great Irish Famine) all came here for a fresh start.
The Underground Railroad
Slavery had been illegal in BNA since 1833 and about 30,000 American slaves escaped to Canada West and Nova Scotia though a secret network called the Underground Railroad

7. The First Nations
While the First Nations People had always been within Canada, their importance and impact within the new European society had changed. Initially, the First Nations had been valuable allies to the British and French as they knew the land, supplied furs in the fur trade and fought against the Americans in the wars. However, there had been peace with the Americans for over 50 years and the significance of the fur trade was declining. The First Nations people, as a result, lived on the fringes of settler sociey

8. Population Breakdown – Canada 1850
Colony (region)
Population
% of Total
Newfoundland
101,600 4
Nova Scotia
276,854
10.9
New Brunswick
193,800
7.7
PEI
56,878
2.2
Canada East
890,261
35.2
Canada West
952,004
37.6
Rupert’s Land & NWT
5,700
0.2
New Caledonia
55,000
Total
2,532,097
100

9. Everyday Life Male Female
Feeding livestock
Milk Cows
Gather firewood
Spin
Clear fields
Knit
Build fences
Sew
Harvest crops
Care for Younger Childen
Cook
Garden
By about the age of 14 boys and girls would be expected to know all jobs on a farm and put in a full day

10. A Few Highlights – Could You Do It?
Winter heat came from a stove – cutting and hauling wood
Went to bed early (candles and oil expensive)
No indoor plumbing
Used basins to hold hand pumped water
Used outhouses (had to clean that eventually)
No schooling due to most children needed on the farm – public schools not offered until late 1800’s
Little entertainment – reading newspapers (if you could read), writing letters, going to church

11. Social Characteristics
Society was different depending on where you were
Canada East was mainly French Speaking and Roman Catholic
Canada West was mainly English Speaking and Protestant
There were communities of African Descent especially in Nova Scotia and the South part of Canada West
First Nations lived apart from European Settlers
There were distinct classes (upper / poor) and people dressed, acted and spoke differently depending and which class they belonged to
There was a lot of movement into and out of settled area – people were always trying to improve their lives

12. Physical Features Of BNA
The settled areas in the colonies were separated by vast distances, bodies of water and difficult terrain – those who wanted to unite these areas would first have to overcome these physical obstacles

13. Distance and Terrain
The First Nations people moved and transported goods in all parts of Canada. They originally showed Europeans these routes from place to place enabling Europeans to travel long distances before there were roads, railways, canals and powerboats. However, between some places there were mountains and large bodies of water that made transportation very difficult – developing an transportation system would be essential for a united nation.

14. Railway

15. Roads

16. Air Routes

17. Climate Extremes Climate affects how societies develop.
In areas where winters are milder then outside work can be done later in the year. The length of seasons and the amount of precipitation influences the agriculture and therefore the economy of a region.
Region
Airstreams
Summers
Winters
West Coast
Warm and Moist
Temperate and Warm
Prairies
Cold Winters/ Hot Summers
Hot and Dry
Cold
Great Lakes
Hot and Humid
Snowy and Wind Chilled
Atlantic
Arctic and Maritime
Warm and Humid
Snowy and Cold
North
Arctic
Cool and Short
Long and Cold

18. Political Features of BNA
Crown
Governor
Executive Council
Legislative Council
Legislative Assembly
Canada West / Canada East
Voters in
Canada West
Voters in
Canada East

19. The Crown appoints a governor, the governor appoints the members of the legislative council and executive council (today’s cabinet – they will decide what bills will be introduced for vote). In order for a bill to become a law the legislative assembly must vote and approve it as well as the legislative council and governor.
Only male property owners were allowed to vote.

20. Canada East and Canada West each had the same number of Votes in the assembly which resulted in political deadlock – no winner.
Canada West wanted to use tax money to expand transportation in order to expand trade and their economy, while Canada East wanted things to stay the same way – they felt great change would threaten their identity (French).

21. Maritimes
There were three colonies – Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI
The British government decided it would be cheaper and easier to run one government instead of three so the three colonies combined into one governement

22. The Distant Colonies
The other colonies were too far away from the Maritimes and the Canada’s to have close relations
Newfoundland – the sea crossing was too dangerous and unpredictable so they went their own way. However, they watched the events in the Maritimes very closely

23. British Columbia (new Caledonia) and Vancouver Island – these colonies combined to form one in 1866 – they all had the traditional British Government System. Due to the Gold Rush in BC, there was a strong American influence in the colony. Many argued that if BC were to join any union that it should be the American Republic instead of Canada which was so far away.

25. Economic Features of BNA
The economy of British North America was becoming industrialized – factories with steam powered equipment were replacing small hand-powered workshops. All goods were produced quicker and cheaper
Canada East – Montreal became the first industrial centre (close to water) factories employed mostly women and children who were paid less than men. Child labour laws did not exist and poor treatment of children as not uncommon.
Canada West – largest industry was textiles, then metalworks – eventually Ontario became an industrial centre
Maritimes – Shipbuilding, farming and logging were important. Factories needed a large population in order to run so the Maritimes were a bit slower than the other colonies to develop.
The West – BC and the Prairies were so thinly populated that industrialization did not start until the late 1880’s – mainly fishing and logging.
The Hudson’s Bay Company owned a lot of the Prairies and did not allow settlers to move into the region for fear it would disrupt the fur trade.
The reason for union was much the same as why most of Europe combined to form the European Union in 1993 – increased trade .

26. Confederation

27. Reasons for Confederation
Economic Factors
Transportation Factors
Defence Issues
Political Issues
Presentations on Each

28. Reasons For Confederation
Economic Factors – Intercolonial Trade – not much trade between colonies could happen due to tariffs and duties. Also no efficient transportation system
External trade – exports to Britain from BNA was high due to tariffs on US goods – due to tariffs US goods cost more. Eventually Britain ended all tariffs and began a system of free trade. BNA lost a large share of the British market as a result.

29. BNA had a healthy trade relationship with the US and it was further developed with the Reciprocity treaty which lowered tariffs in both BNA and America. Eventually the US wanted to back out of the treaty due to them : feeling BNA benefitted more, feeling like BNA tariffs on manufactured goods were still too high and punish the British due to them supporting the south in the Civil War.

30. Transportation
Existing – canals, rivers, lakes and broken up railways. There were few roads. The roads that were around were poor quality and mostly impassable for much of the year
There were large gaps in the existing railroad and the Grand Trunk Railroad from Montreal to Toronto was not doing well financially. It was thought if the railway reached to the Maritimes, business would be better.

31. In order for this to happen, BNA would have to borrow a large amount of money from British banks and the banks wanted to make sure these loans would be re-paid. The banks felt that if the colonies were united, they would have a better chance of re-paying the loans.

32. Defence Issues
Britain Withdraws Troops – Britain had colonies all over the world and it became costly keeping their soldier in each. They decided to only keep a skeleton crew of soldiers in each to save costs. They were also in the middle of a war with Russia which further drained troops from BNA.

33. Fenians – the Irish had always had conflict with the English in England. Many Irish came to the new world carrying this displeasure with them during the Great Migration. A nationalistic group was created in the US called the Fenians. People in BNA were worried that the Fenians would attack them because they were a colony of Britian. Some attacks occurred including politician Thomas D’Arcy McGee who was know to oppose of the Fenians.

34. Manifest Destiny
The destiny of the United States was to expand all throughout North America
The “white” Americans felt as though they were superior to the Natives due to them being more civilized.
This resulted in Canada being vulnerale to American attack.

35. Events of Confederation

36. Conferences
Charlottetown
Quebec
London