Unit 3: Building A Nation

1. Unit 3: Building A Nation The Confederation of Canada

2. Towards Confederation • Some politicians were dreaming of confederation since Lord Durham (1840s). More popular in Canada West than Canada East • Confederation would mean Canada would control things Britain had control of, like: Defense, external relations, currency, postage, taxation etc. • Maritimes had little in common and French Canada had little interest in being a minority in a unified nation. (needed convincing!!)

3. Towards Confederation • “Top-down” vision – ideas had to be sold to other politicians and business people • Some felt confederation would weaken the British Empire and give Canada’s (and Britain) enemy USA and France more power to take control • Some believed confederation would weaken the economies of Canada and Britain.

4. Corn Laws (Corn = Grains) • 1846 – Britain repeals Corn Laws - withdrew trading privileges with colonies. Colonies could trade with Britain with low import taxes but Britain repealed the Corn Laws and that enabled Britain to extend their trade to any country. • Canada enters depression – less exports, less ship building • British attitudes towards Canada changed

5. 1846 (James Bruce) Lord Elgin (son-in-law of Lord Durham) was appointed Governor General. He agreed with Lord Durham’s idea - colonies should govern themselves, and supported responsible government. 1848 election saw more Reformers elected than Tories Reformers were those who sought change Tories were Conservatives who liked things as they were. Lord Elgin

6. Reform Leaders, Robert Baldwin (Canada West) and Louis Lafontaine (Canada East) were asked to recommend elected official to advise Lord Elgin. They chose Legislative Assembly members from the Reform party. Lord Elgin promised to take their advice as long as Reformers held the majority in the Legislative Assembly. Responsible Government had arrived! Responsible Government Lafontaine Left Baldwin Below

7. Rebellion Losses Bill – money should be paid to people in Canada East (Lower Canada) whose property had been damaged during the rebellion. They received compensation ($) for damage to their homes, barns, fences, livestock, wagons and other personal property. Canada West had already received similar compensation. Rebellion Losses Bill

8. Lord Elgin’s Dilemma • Tories voted against Rebellion Losses Bill; they didn’t want rebels to be compensated/feared violence between the 2 sides. • Tories were outvoted on the Bill by the Reformers and the Bill was sent to Lord Elgin. • Lord Elgin didn’t think the Bill was wise but the elected representatives had passed it. • He feared violence against his family but because the Legislative Assembly had passed it he signed the Bill. • The bill is said to have laid the way for Canada’s democracy

9. Advantages of Confederation • Benefits: • Economic union: trade and tariff barriers which existed between the colonies could be abolished and free trade could be achieved • Strong central government: could build a national railway to link the colonies and defend the country. Goods could travel easily, especially to the Maritimes • Release fear of annexation: manifest destiny • End political deadlock – 12 governments in 15 years in Canada province between 1849-1864. ‘Rep by Pop’.

10. Colonies got along but wanted to know how confederation would benefit them. MacDonald wanted central government but colonies wanted local control (provincial). Maritimes were ‘mature’ and had well-established economic ties with the USA and Britain. Confederation Achieved

11. Great Coalition – George-Etienne Cartier (Parti Bleu), George Brown (Clear Grits) and John A MacDonald (Conservative). These men pushed for Confederation. 1864 Charlottetown, PEI – The Great Coalition attended the Maritime meeting in PEI to present the idea of Confederation. Tilley (NB), Tupper (NS) and Whelan (PEI) agreed to meet at the next conference in Quebec. Newfoundland attended too. Conferences Cartier left Brown below

12. Conferences • 1864 Quebec Conference • met in the fall to hash out plans for the new nation. Provincial government to retain many powers. The delegates produced the 72 resolutions – this would form the backbone of confederation • PEI and Newfoundland decided not to join. PEI – no resolution to absentee land owner issue and no real promise to Newfoundland.

13. Dominion of Canada • 1866 London Conference – delegates traveled to London England to ask Britain permission to become a nation. British Parliament passed the British North America Act (BNA Act) March 29, 1867 and created the Dominionof Canada. • Confederation is celebrated on July 1. • Canada became a country with own constitution but recognized the supreme authority of the monarch (Constitutional Monarchy)