Creating a New Country

1. Creating a New Country Chapter 7 Social Studies

2. Food for thought… • To what extent was Confederation an attempt to solve existing problems and lay a foundations for a country? (p. 146) • Remember, this chapter is still PRE-confederation, so there is NOT “one” Canada as we know it today, not yet anyway… I’m going to ruin the surprise and tell you that by the end of the chapter, Canada will be a country!

3. What is Government? • A government is the way societies organize themselves to make decisions and get things done • The book asks: imagine you’re living in a house with three roommates, and you’re trying to decide if you should get a pet – how would you possibly make a decision?

4. Canada’s Government • We are a representative democracy which means that we hold the power to elect the people who make decisions on our behalf • These “people” must make decisions in citizens’ best interest • Our Prime Minister has a cabinet of reps to work with him; the cabinet must answer to the elected reps (responsible government)

5. The beginning of the government • Our system of government started over 150 years ago in British North America (BNA) • The colonies of BNA thought about joining together – this gov’t would have to give a voice to the different regions

6. Conditions for Confederation • 1858 – there were seven (7) colonies in BNA; each colony had its own unique historybut had much in common with the others • They were all part of the British Empire • They all had parliaments (modeled after those in Britain) • First Nations people lived in each colony

7. All for one? • In the 1850’s the colonies wondered if they had anything in common and if they would find strength in becoming one country • What we’re going to look at in this chapter: • Political deadlock in the Province of Canada • Shifting trade relations (commerce) • Defending BNA

8. In your text • Page 129 – there is a map of the divisions of the BNA • Also included: populations of each section • Discussion on “French Canadian” versus “Quebecois”

9. Political Deadlock • Imagine that: people were unhappy with the political system • In 1841 Upper and Lower Canada were united as a single colony • Called the Province of Canada • Canada West (English), Canada East (Canadiens – French) • English had a majority, so the Canadiens were often outvoted • There were talks of dividing Canada

10. Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine • Disagreed about separating Canada • He thought he could make it work for the Canadiens • He was a big supporter of French rights; he spoke French in the assembly , even though he was supposed to speak English • He saw a divide in the English: the Reformers and the Tories (Conservatives) • Joined with English Reform leader (Robert Baldwin) and they formed the “Great Ministry” and developed laws to improve life in Canada • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeZa9-F65Ms

11. The Parties in the Assembly • Les Rouges (the Reds): Canadien radicals; wanted independence • Leader Antoine-AiméDorion • The Clear Grit Party: radical reformers; wanted a more democratic government • Impatient with the Canadiens • Leader: George Brown

12. Parties in the Assembly (cont’d) • Les Bleus (the Blues): conservative, business-oriented Canadiens; wanted to cooperate with the English • Leader: George-Étienne Cartier • TheLiberal Conservatives: conservative, business-oriented English Canadians in favor of cooperating with the French • Leader: John A. Macdonald • The Independents: individuals who hadn’t joined a party; they voted how they wished

13. But people are headstrong… • In the 1850’s, after the Great Ministry ended, things got worse: nobody could agree on anything. • Deadlock – there was no progression toward a decision because of disagreement • One issue that divided the Assembly: representation by population “rep by pop” • Elected members all represent the same amount of people • More population = more representatives • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H_zEDbTyng

14. The Act of Union • This act gave Canada East and Canada West equal seats in the assembly even though in the 1840’s Canada West had a smaller population than did its neighbor to the East (then there was a reversal) • Canada West representatives wanted rep by pop as their population outgrew that of Canada East (naturally, the Canadiens objected) • This led to the need for CHANGE!

15. Shifting Trade Partners • The Mercantile system (remember that?) made Britain rich and helped out the colonies too • Britain taxed imports from all other countries except those from its colonies – colonial goods (goods that originated from colonies in Canada) were inexpensive and popular • But then, there was a shift

16. Britain Lets Go • The Mercantile system was no longer working – uh oh. • Manufacturing industries were developing, so Britain needed to find more places to sell goods • They decided to reduce/remove tax from goods imported from all countries … Free trade! (Tax free trade with all countries) • For the colonies, this meant that they had no guarantee that their goods would sell • Britain no longer needed the colonies for trade – why did they have them? • As a result: Britain would give colonies greater control over their affairs IF the colonies paid for their own governments and defense

17. Trade with the United States • “Look for other markets”, Britain said to the colonies. “Ok,” the colonies responded. • They looked to their southern neighbors: the U.S. • 1854 – they signed a trade agreement: reciprocity was established (fish, timber and grain could flow both ways across the border free of any import taxes) • This went well, but then the U.S. decided they weren’t getting enough – after 10 years, they cancelled the deal • Economic crisis ensued – the colonies lost trade with Britain AND the U.S. What do they do? • Unite. Then trade amongst each other

18. It made good business sense… • If Canada West and Canada East were to unite, the maritime ports would get more use • Colonies could trade with each other without paying taxes • Build a stronger market at home, this would make up for the reduction of trade with Britain and the U.S.

19. Defending British North America • Naturally, after the free trade agreement collapsed between the colonies and the U.S, their relationship soured • There was some worry that the U.S. might send civil war armies north • 1861 – civil war broke out in the U.S (Northern states vs. Southern States) • Slavery and the power of the states to make laws • Britain relied on the southern slaves for textiles, the colonies in BNA did not support slavery • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InXdQlSwrac

20. Suspicion ensues… • The North was leery of the British AND the colonies – they suspected the British supported the south, so if the North won, would their army be sent into Canada? • Well, the North did win and some people wanted to invade Canada • Manifest destiny: it was the destiny of the U.S. to control all of the North American continent • This made the colonies reconsider union: they would be able to better protect themselves

21. Confederation and the Maritime Colonies • The Maritimes had little in common with the province of Canada • Made their living from the sea; were isolated from the inland population • Page 155 – there are some facts about the Maritime Colonies (economy, most important city, and so on and so forth… I’d take a look over those)

22. The Golden Age of the Maritimes • 1840 and 1870 are considered the “Golden Age” for the Maritime colonies • Wind, wood and sail • Shipbuilders were highly respected • BNA had the 4th largest shipping fleet in the world • 70% of the ships were built in the Maritimes • Shipbuilding symbolizes the Maritimes • Coal put Nova Scotia on the map as one of the largest producers of coal in the world • Coal Miner Blues by Matt Anderson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYqeOU5WQsk

23. Benefits: Not for All! • Eastern colonies were growing, but there were some indigenous peoples (the Mi’kmaq and the Maliseet), Scottish immigrants in Cape Breton, Acadiens, Loyalists and Irish immigrants in New Brunswick, Black Loyalists and German immigrants in Nova Scotia • These people were not included in the “Golden Age” – these people did not share in the economic benefits: natural resources were disappearing • Many FN peoples signed treaties and were assigned limited reserve lands

24. Union: Help or Hindrance? • Many people opposed the union because they thought it would end the prosperity – they wanted to expand trade with Britain and the U.S., not Canada • People who supported the union saw the world changing – new technologies (coal, iron and steel) threatened the wood, wind and sail era • The proposed railway – very attractive because it could be used as protection against American invasion AND it would connect East with West

25. Confederation Discussions • What we have to look forward to in this section: • Politicians had to create deals that would benefit the most people • How was deadlock finally broken? • An intense video on Confederation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFjkaY4JMh4 A second intense video on Confederation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPHywgdoJRQ

26. Breaking the Deadlock • 1864 – George Brown, leader of the Clear grits convinced his party to join a coalition (kind of like joining forces) with the Liberal-Conservatives and Les Bleus • BUT the other two parties had to agree to support a plan that he had (a plan to unite all the colonies) • Brown proposed federalism – each colony would keep its own gov’t to run its own affairs, but a central government would look after affairs that would impact the whole union) • This was positive for the isolated Maritimes and other colonies (they wouldn’t have people in-land making decisions for them)

27. The Talks Heat Up • 1864 – delegates from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI met in Charlottetown (PEI) to discuss a union of their three colonies. Politicians from the Province of Canada were invited, and talks of uniting the four colonies were had • A month later, in Quebec City, all gathered again and argued for two weeks • Finally, there was a compromise– everyone gave up a little in order to get an agreement everyone was happy with • Consensus had been achieved – Seventy-Two resolutions (the foundations for a new country and a new government)

28. What did the Colonies Decide? • The Province of Canada • Most in Canada West were in favor of union • Francophones in Canada East were nervous that their voice would not be heard in matters that concerned them, but George-Étienne Cartier believed federalism would give them some degree of control • The Francophones received promises that their language and other rights would be respected and the BNA Act gave each province control over education • The vote passed 91 in favor, 33 opposed

29. New Brunswick • Many worried that the larger Canadian colonies would dominate the union • The assembly initially voted against the idea • Britain put pressure on N.B to accept the deal • The promise of a railroad was appealing so N.B politicians changed their minds • They voted to support the union

30. Nova Scotia • Joseph Howe (biography on pg. 157) worried that N.S. would have little influence on the new country • He argued that the Nova Scotians would have to pay higher taxes but that their dollars would be spent elsewhere • But there’s the promise of a railroad again… and N.S. politicians agreed to the union • The Ghost of the Eastern Seaboard by The Stanfields http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUIc-xP7fno

31. Prince Edward Island • This island colony was isolated from the others • People thought that their voice would not be heard and they would be swamped by the other colonies • PEI did not join Confederation until 1873 • Fun fact: Charlottetown is known as the birthplace of Confederation!

32. Newfoundland & Labrador • Isolated • Did not think they would have much influence in such a distant government • They were more interested in maintain ties with Britain, so they did not join Confederation until 1949 • Do you think there are some resonating feelings of fear from Maritimers about a centralized government so far from them?

33. Working Together • John A. Macdonald finally convinced politicians across the colonies to join in Confederation • Macdonald believed there had to be an alliance between the English and the French, so he joined forces with George-Étienne Cartier (bio pg. 161) • Macdonald was the “architect” of Confederation – he led the campaign and wrote much of the British North America Act • The name “Canada” came from the Haudenosaunee word for village kanata

34. Dawn of a Dominion • July 1, 1867 saw the creation of a new country: the Dominion of Canada • There was a celebration across many communities (similar to the fireworks we celebrate now) • Mayors and officials in towns across the country read a proclamation from Queen Victoria: Canada was now a country!

35. The Structure of Canadian Government • In 1867 the British Parliament passed the British North America act (BNA Act) – this made it official: the dominion of Canada was now a country • Britain still controlled defense and foreign affairs and Canada remained part of the British Empire • British monarch (the Queen) was Canada’s head of state • Governor General would represent the Queen in Canada (this person is chosen by the Prime Minister) • Parliament divided into two parts: elected House of Commons and appointed Senate • The amount of houses a province has in the gov’t based on Rep by Pop but Senate seats were based on region, so the senate would give less populated provinces more of a voice and protect the rights of the minorities BUT the House of Commons held the power

36. A Federal System • The BNA act called for a Federal System – this created two levels of Gov’t: the central government had power over matters affecting the whole country, whereas provincial governments had power over local and regional matters

37. Limited Democracy • In 1867 Canada was a democracy – to an extent • What? • Only people over 21 who owned land or rented large amounts of property were able to vote • Married women could not vote and very few single women owned land • Neither did various visible minorities, farm laborers or unskilled workers • Neither did FN, Métis or Inuit • Only 11% of the population had the vote • Today all Canadian citizens aged 18 or older can vote