The Drive to Nationhood

1. The Drive to Nationhood 1854-1868 Group 3 8-23

2. Rep by Pop • Definition: the number of elected members of legislated assembly (LA) based on the number of voters West Canada’s View • Wanted rep by pop because its population was already higher than East Canada-meaning they would have more LA members than East Canada East Canada’s View • Against rep by pop because it would result in less power in LA • It also seemed unfair because when East Canada had a higher population than the West, there were equal reps from both sides • With equal reps from the East and West there was a deadlock-this was solved by coalitionbetween the East and West • This ended up forming the federal union of the Province of Canada (the Atlantic colonies and the North-West Territories) The House of Commons in 1860

3. The Reciprocity Treaty • British North American’s had to search for new destinations for exports after Britain repealed the corn laws • The treaty meant there would be free trade of natural products between British North America and the United States • The economic situation improved with the treaty • This meant that British North American Colonies could sell products to the United States without paying tariffs when products entered or left the area • The treaty ended in 1866 because it was felt that Canada was the only one benefiting from the treaty The signing of the Reciprocity Treaty in 1854

4. Expansion of the United States and the Threat to the Canadian Colonies • In 1860 North America and South America were at war. South America battled on Canadian soil and North America planned to invade British territory • In 1866 the Fenian’s invaded the British in Canada to win back Ireland. Because the Fenian’s couldn’t attack the British directly, they attacked the North American’s. This attack was thought to of been a threat from Canada • After the American Civil War, the American’s got land from Spain, Mexico, France and Great Britain. People were concerned about the American threat in Western British North America. So they had two choices: to buy land or invade land. • There were worries that the western sides of Vancouver Island and British Columbia would be taken over by the American’s. • The land in western Canada was good for farming but the American’s and the Canadian’s both wanted the land. If the colonies of British North America were to join, then they would’ve gotten the Canadian land that they wanted. • The British thought that if they formed together, they could defeat the American threat. A Fenian soldier The American Civil War

5. American Expansion and the Colonies Desire for Union • Because the British North American Colonies were part of the British Empire, they received favour status when they traded with Britain • In 1846 Britain entered a period of free trade • As a result of the free trade period, the British North American Colonies lost their special status with Britain. Because of this British North America lost most of their market and economic hard times resulted • When the Reciprocity treaty was signed in 1854 between British North America and the United States, the economic situation improved • In 1865 the United States decided to end the Reciprocity treaty which spread the idea of Confederation in British North America A map of British North American Colonies in 1775

6. American Expansion and Great Britain’s Desire for Union • The Canadian’s were worried about another invasion by the American’s • Because it was expensive to defend the American’s, the governors of the colonies were encouraged to unite or form a Confederation • The desire for union was important because the British North American colonists were very loyal to Britain • This worked to the Canadian’s advantage as what the British wanted many would agree with • Britain was also in favour of these colonies taking responsibility for governing themselves • This desire for union was an important part of Canada’s struggle for self government Map of Great Britain’s land as of 1854

7. The Atlantic Colonies (1854-1864) • The Atlantic Colonies consisted of these current Provinces of Canada: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI and Newfoundland New Brunswick • In 1866 the lieutenant governor was instructed to encourage Confederation • There were many circumstances that changed between elections that encouraged the eventual Confederation • Fear of an American invasion • Great Britain announced that they supported Confederation • People thought about the possible economic benefits to Union or Confederation • People thought that Union would equal more money for railway construction which would supply more jobs • The railways that needed to be constructed were necessary for settlement Nova Scotia • By 1867 Halifax had become an important port and military center and they wanted Halifax to become part of Canada An 1854 map of the Atlantic Colonies

8. Charlottetown Conference (1864) • The Charlottetown Conference was held in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (PEI) on September, 1st 1864 • Representatives came from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI to discuss Canadian Confederation and economic and military power in the ongoing United States Civil War • Britain encouraged the Maritime Union between these colonies, hoping they would become less dependant on the Crown • The majority of the Conference was held in the Province house, but some was also held in the Government house • The Conference ended on September. 8th, 1864 with a ball and a banquet The Parliamentary delegates present at the Charlottetown Conference

9. The Fathers of Confederation • The Fathers of Confederation generally refers to all of the people who represented British North American colonies • The Fathers of Confederation had to of been to at least one of the three Conferences that led to the Canadian Confederation • The three Conferences were • The Charlottetown Conference (1864) • The Quebec Conference (1864) • The London Conference (1867) • While over 36 parliamentary delegates attended one or more of the Conferences, the following people played an important role in the many debates that occurred: Sir John A. Macdonald George Brown George-Etienne Cartier Alexander Tilloch Galt Charles Tupper Thomas D’Arcy McGee Hector-Louis Lanjevin The Fathers of Confederation at the Quebec Conference

10. The Confederation Debate • It was the job of the delegates at the Quebec Conference to convince any Anti-Confederates to change their minds about Confederation-this debate lasted about 6 weeks • In the end, great coalition had an overwhelming majority on its side (The vote was: 91 to 33 in favor of Confederation) • There was strong opposition in the Atlantic Colonies, they thought they had little in common with the people of the Province of Canada • Many Anti-Confederates thought that they would have little influence on the Union • Many people thought of the great economic benefits-protection against American invasion and the connection with Britain this eventually caused Pro-Confederates to take over The delegates at the Quebec Conference The voting record of Confederation

11. Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland PEI • There was a widespread opposition to the idea of Confederation • People were concerned that only 5 PEI representatives in the House of Commons would not have any influence or power • PEI saw no advantage in the customs union because the islands’ government operating revenues came mostly from jobs which supervised trade with more colonies Newfoundland • The people of Newfoundland were not interested in Confederation • They felt that they had a small amount in common with the Province of Canada • They were more interested in the Anti-Confederation events in more Atlantic colonies PEI in 1864 Newfoundland in the late 1900’s

12. The Constitution Act of 1867 • This Act refers to the agreement between British North America and the United States • The aim of Constitution was to create federal union in the colonies of British North America in association with Great Britain • The writers of the Constitution had to think about whether they should have National and Provincial government or just National government • The result was federalism- this means the dominion of Canada would have two levels of government • Federal government handles matters that effect the entire Province of Canada while Provincial government handles matters within a specific region Part of the Constitution Act Amendment

13. Sir John A. Macdonald-Canada’s First Prime Minister • Sir John A. Macdonald was born in Scotland and shortly after came to Canada. At age 14 he left school; he went to law office at 15, and started his own law practice at age 19 • He helped to create the Liberal-Conservative party in Canada West in 1854 • In 1856 he became joint Premier of the Province of Canada and in 1867 he became the first Prime Minister of the Dominion of Canada • He was responsible for building the Canadian Pacific Railway, which resulted in the West becoming populated and joining the rest of Canada • The Pacific Scandal caused Sir John A. Macdonald and his party to resign in 1873 • Sir John A. Macdonald and the Conservatives won the election with a reduced minority, but were accused of accepting bribes. They resigned in 1873, lost election of 1874 and returned to office after 1878 Sir John A. Macdonald

14. The British North America Act and Canada’s First System of Federalism • The Constitution Act-formally called the British North America Act or the BNA Act was designed to unite all of the colonies in Canada and create a federal union (or Confederation) • The BNA Act stated the powers of the provincial and federal governments, how they would be structured and the guaranteed protection for minority groups • The most important part of the BNA Act was the decision of whether to have National government or National and Provincial government • Federalism is usually adopted in country’s that display differences of climate, geography, religion, and language, culture and economics • Canada’s first system of Federalism states that it would be a system with a central government and provincial governments; but the central government would have more power than the provincial governments The signing of the British North America Act

15. The End of the British North America Act • The British North America Act created the Dominion of Canada in 1867 and was renamed the Constitution Act in 1867 • The BNA Act’s original goal was to create a federal union pf the colonies of British North America associated with Great Britain • Canada left the BNA Act in 1982 and was overtaken by the Constitution Act of 1982 • This was because the country and its individual provinces were gaining more and more power *Although to this day the government of Quebec still hasn’t signed the Constitution of 1982* The Constitution Act of 1982

16. INTERNET http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/aia/default.asp http://www.immg.search.com/2/2b.png http://www.uppercanadahistory.ca http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org http://www.gracegalleries.com http://www.content.answers.com/main http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/peopleparlia. http://www.webhome.idirect.com http://data2.collectionscanada.ca BOOKS Penney Clark and Roberta McKay (1992) “Canada Revisited” Edmonton, AB Arnold Pub. REFERENCES

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