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Confederation. INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL FACTORS LEADING TO CONFEDERATION. INTERNAL & EXTERNAL FACTORS. Internal Factors Factors occurring in BNA 1. Repeal of the Corn Laws 2. Political Deadlock 3. The Railway. External Factors Factors occurring outside of BNA 1. Manifest Destiny
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Confederation INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL FACTORS LEADING TO CONFEDERATION
INTERNAL & EXTERNAL FACTORS • Internal Factors • Factors occurring in BNA • 1. Repeal of the Corn Laws • 2. Political Deadlock • 3. The Railway • External Factors • Factors occurring outside of BNA • 1. Manifest Destiny • 2. The Trent Affair • 3. The Chesapeake Incident • 4. The St. Alban’s Raid • 5. The Fenian Raids • 6. End of Reciprocity
Internal Factor #1 – Repeal of the Corn Laws • The Corn Laws were British laws which set customs duties on wheat and other cereal grains imported into Britain • This ensured that Britain would get their ‘corn’ from British colonies • British colonies (Upper & Lower Canada) were being charged far less import duty than grain growers who were not a part of the British Empire • In 1846, Britain repealed (cancelled) the Corn Laws and moved towards free trade • This caused Canadian farmers to lose their trading terms and price advantage over American producers and the American producers took a larger share of the British market
Internal Factor #2 – Political Deadlock Canada West Liberal-Conservative Party (Tories) John A. Macdonald VS Clear Grits (Reform Party) George Brown Canada East Le Parti Bleu (Conservatives) George-Etienne Cartier VS Le Parti Rouge (Reform Party) Antoine-Aime Dorion
Internal Factor #2 – Political Deadlock • Political Deadlock is a situation where progress cannot be made because the parties involved do not agree • Canada East (French) vs. Canada West (English) • The 2 issues that created this deadlock were: • Transportation • Representation
Internal Factor #2 – Political Deadlock • Transportation • Canada West wanted to expand transportation facilities to increase trade and wealth; they were willing to spend government money to do so. • Canada East did not want to change their existing way of life; they felt that better links with Canada West would threaten their identity and they resisted attempts to spend tax money on transportation improvements. • Representation • Canada West supported Representation by Population • Canada East wanted to retain equal representation • Disagreements about these two issues led to a coalition between MacDonald, Cartier, and Brown • Coalition is - a temporary joining together of two or more political parties • The determination of the Canadian leaders to change the government was the spark that put Confederation into motion. • Representation by Population was agreed upon
Internal Factor #3 – The Railway • Canada West, Canada East, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick had their own railway but they were not all connected. • The railway was needed to increase trade and move troops more quickly in case of war. • The railway would increase communication (quicker movement of mail) and increase business. • An INTERCOLONIAL railway would overcome problems: mountains and freezing of St. Lawrence. • Due to financial trouble the building came to a halt and politicians dreamed to connect Canada from sea to sea. • Confederation was needed to build this railway.
Internal Factor #3 – The Railway • Did You Know? • http://www2.canadiana.ca/citm/themes/pioneers/pioneers9_e.html#chinese