British Columbia

1. British Columbia Uniting the colonies and Confederation

2. Towards confederation Objectives: • What were the causes and consequences of negotiating the boundary between southern British Columbia and the United States? • What events led to the formation of the crown colony of Vancouver Island? • What role did the Cariboo Gold Rush play in the creation of the British Columbia colony? • Why did BC agree to enter Confederation? What events led to this agreement? • Under what conditions did BC agree to become part of Canada?

3. B.C. before the 1800s • No development or infrastructure • Up to 100,000 First Nation people • Competitive Maritime fur trade • British, US and Russian interest • Nobody “owned” the Oregon Territory

4. The Oregon Territory Dispute • Boundary treaty signed after War of 1812 • 49th parallel became the BNA/US border • But area west of Rockies was not included • Territory left open to settlers • American fur traders and settlers moved to Columbia River Valley – Fort Astoria • HBC also dominated the area • Pressure from settlers towards politicians to annex the Pacific Northwest • US Interest: • Rapid population increase • Manifest Destiny possible • Settlement policy in Oregon Territory • Settlement in Columbia River Valley • BNA/HBC Interest: • Plan to expand fur trade along Pacific Coast • Fort Vancouver built in CRV • HBC manipulated US settlement • Fort Langley built on Fraser River • Trading posts south of Alaska

5. Russian / American treaty • 1824 US/Russian treaty divided their trade of the Pacific Coast at 54 ° 40’ north • US & British were to share trade south of this latitude • 1844 James Polk’s presidential campaign promised to gain this shared land for the US • “54-40 or fight” an empty promise • 1846 Oregon Boundary Treaty divided land at 49th parallel • Columbia River (including where Fort Vancouver was) controlled by US, Vancouver Island con

6. Group Discussion Questions What forces prompted the British decided to focus on Vancouver Island? • Boundary change under Oregon treaty • Annexation of California in 1848 • US moving closer to their “manifest destiny.” • Fear of US settlers moving north What do you think would help Britain maintain control of the region? • Occupation of Vancouver Island • January 1849, Vancouver Island became a crown colony with Fort Victoria the capital

7. A new start – Vancouver Island • HBC lost fur trade market in Columbia River • Government created crown colony of Vancouver Island • James Douglas sent to select a site for a fort • “father of British Columbia” • Used HBC skipper McNeill’s observations of 1837: “found an excellent harbour, of easy access with good anchorage, surrounded by a plain of several miles in extent, of an excellent soil.” • 1843 started the construction of Fort Victoria • Area rich in forests, fisheries & coal • Grants given to encourage people to start farming

8. Strengthening the claim • British government gave HBC a royal charter to give a monopoly over trade and commerce • HBC instructed to encourage settlement and sell land to settlers • HBC keep 10%, 90% used to develop infrastructure • 1849 Fort Victoria became the centre of HBC’s west coast operations • James Douglas transferred from Fort Vancouver to control operations • Governor Richard Blanshard had no control over colony and resigned after 2 years • James Douglas became the new governor

9. Encouraging settlement • What kind of settlers do you think Douglas was looking for? • What are the characteristics of a “good settler”? • British government introduced a system that mirrored the class structure in England • Settlers could buy a minimum of 20 acres • If they bought 100 acres +, they had to bring a minimum of five workers to settle too • Town plans being made for Victoria • Plans for a naval base nearby • Fine homes built for colony’s leaders • Schools, churches, formal dances introduced • Many BC Englishmen married daughters of fur traders/Metis or Indian wives

10. Economic development • Discovery of lumber and coal • Gold discovered in California in 1849 • HBC sold supplies to gold prospectors • Market for lumber in mining communities in California • Regular steamship service between California and Vancouver Island established • Colony still grew slowly, despite the boom • 1852 450 non-native settlers • HBC established coal mines near Nanaimo to provide steam for ships • British miners came to the island to mine, increasing the population to over 1000

11. The Gold Rush • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q6nSMF_eu0 • 1857 gold found along North Thompson River • Hundreds of US miners came north to prospect for gold • News spread to San Francisco and even more people came • Gold also found on the Fraser River

12. The Gold Rush & Victoria • In April 1858 450 miners arrived aboard the Commodore • Douglas feared a large anti-British population would have a negative impact on the colony • Fears of annexation • 50 of the miners settled, including 35 blacks • They became valuable contributors to Victoria’s society • The other 400 headed to the gold fields on the mainland • By 1858, 10,000 men were searching for gold on the Fraser River, 25,000 by 1859.

13. Benefits & Problems in Victoria What were the benefits of the Gold Rush for Victoria? • Island farmers provided food to miners • Hotel owners benefited from increased visitors • What were the problems of the Gold Rush for Victoria? • Tent and shanty settlements developed • More Americans that British • Land values increased • End to HBC’s monopoly as new businesses emerged • May 30 1859 new Liberal British government ended HBC’s charter to encourage competition

14. The founding of a mainland colony • Why reasons prompted the development of the mainland colony created in 1858? • More US settlers due to Gold Rush • Fears of US annexation • To maintain law and order in the gold fields Making it official: • Britain’s new colonial secretary, Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton offered James Douglas governorship of both Vancouver Island and the new British Columbia colony • Douglas had to resign from HBC

15. The founding of a mainland colony • BC officially celebrated on November 19, 1858 • Fort Langley became the first capital • Matthew Begbie, the colony’s judge, named James Douglas as governor • HBC’s exclusive right to trade was removed • Douglas, Begbie & Colonel Richard Moody were responsible to bring good government & law and order to the mainland • 25,000 miners and settlers

16. Diverse BC English American Italian Poles Danes Germans Swedes Spaniards Mexicans Chinese Natives • Miners: • Ethnic diversity to BC • Focus on individualism • Desire for riches The early BC colony BC shaped by two forces: • the miners • three men: Douglas, Begbie & Moody • Infrastructure • Moody & Company of Royal Engineers controlled development • Roads, public works, seaport • Cariboo Wagon Road • Law & Order • Begbie traveled to hold court • Law extended to non-whites • Trials for natives

17. CaribooWagon Road • 1860 more gold discovered in the Cariboo region • Resource was richer than along Fraser River • Gold discovered in Richfield - 800 people on by the creek in William’s Lake by spring • Other towns built along Williams Creek • A road was needed as deposits located in isolated areas • Supplies were needed at the mining town • 1862, the Cariboo Wagon Road was ordered by Douglas • Civilian contractors and the Royal Engineers worked together • Completed in less than 4 years, the road was 600 km long, 6m wide and ran from Yale to Boston Bar

18. Where is the Best Location for BC’s Capital City & Seaport? • Consider building: • An already established site? • A new city? • What would city planners need to think about? • Space • Land use/type • Political control • Defense • Access to the sea • Access to rivers & roads

19. Choosing a Capital City & Seaport Douglas’ opinion: • Capital should remain at Derby (Fort Langley), south of the Fraser River • Seaport should be located on north bank of Fraser River, across from Annacis Island, 30km from the Fraser’s mouth Moody’s Opinion: • Location should be on north side of river for protection • Recommended a site by Douglas for the seaport and the capital

20. New Westminster • July 1859, New Westminster became the capital and the seaport for BC

21. Was New West the right choice? Problems with New Westminster • Politically unpopular – speculators in Victoria had bought land around Fort Langley • Moody had very expensive plans for a ‘magnificent’ city’s development • Huge rivalry between New Westminster and Victoria Successes with New Westminster • Location satisfied requirement for defense • Homes, churches, offices and commercial buildings created in 1860 • Town council took control in 1860 over local improvements • Cariboo Gold Rush brought prosperity to New Westminster • Easier supply location than Victoria

22. The Struggle for Responsible Government On Vancouver Island • 1856 Douglas reluctantly created an elected assembly for the Vancouver Island colony • No responsible government – Vancouver Island Assembly had little power • Only property-holders had the right to vote (<40 out 450 residents) • Douglas and Legislative Council had most power Governor LegislativeCouncil LegislativeCouncil Voters

23. The Struggle for Responsible Government On the Mainland Colony • British Columbia Act of 1858 made no provision for an elected assembly • All power held by Douglas and the Legislative Council (HBC officers) • Douglas supported by miners, opposed by settlers and business people Governor LegislativeCouncil Voters

24. The Move for Reform On Vancouver Island • Reform led by publisher of TheBritish Colonist newspaper • William Smith, later known as Amor de Cosmos • Opposed Douglas for he did not listen to the elected assembly’s decisions • Every piece of legislation between 1856-1863 was made by Douglas & his council • Opposed “family compact”/HBC men making all of the decisions • Pushed for responsible government and Confederation as achieved by Howe in Nova Scotia

25. The Move for Reform On the Mainland Colony • A reform group started to demand changes to the way colony was ruled • Led by John Robson, publisher of The British Columbian newspaper • Supported by New Westminster’s merchants who had settled from the Canadas and the Maritimes • They wanted BC to have an elected assembly with a responsible government • Opposed Douglas’ ability to make any law he wished • Douglas raised taxes three times in three years • Miners didn’t support reformers as those taxes built better roads and services

26. The Future of Douglas • Douglas ignored the reformers and wanted to build a prosperous colony within the British Empire • His plans for expansion and public works cost more than the taxes he raised • After borrowing money, the colony suffered from mounting debts • His ability to govern was being questioned • Reformers sent 4 petitions to London complaining about Douglas’ rule • Douglas created a partially elected Legislative Council in response – but still not responsible • Pressure from reformers in BC and VI pushed the British Colonial Office to force Douglas’ retirement. • Knighted by Queen Victoria • Each colony was to have its own governor

27. Changes for the Colonies Governor in British Columbia – Frederick Seymour • Needed to raise money to repay loans from building roads to gold fields • Miners opposed paying taxes Governor on Vancouver Island - Arthur Edward Kennedy • Economic and political problems • Conflict with elected members of the assembly, including Amor de Cosmos • The fought against proposals for increasing taxes • Kennedy gained support from areas outside of Victoria • Established Royal Navy base at Esquimalt , assuring a market to coal mines in Nanaimo • Kennedy appealed to colonial office for help but was ignored

28. Uniting the Two Colonies Why would the Colonial Secretary want to unite the two colonies? • Less expensive • more efficient • VI suggested a federal union with VI as a separate province but idea was dropped as recession worsened • January 1856 Amor de Cosmos called for a complete union • To test public approval, he resigned, forcing elections and won • November 19 1866, the union was official and colonies became known as British Columbia, with Seymour as governor • Victoria became capital after a debate led by islander assembly member, John Helmcken

29. The Question of Confederation The Key Players in the decision • Anti-Confederation led by J.S. Helmcken– he did not think Confederation practical • Pro-Confederation position most vocal leader was Amor de Cosmos who thought Confederation would lead to “Responsible Government” • Annexationistswere mostly merchants in Victoria who thought joining the US would strengthen the economy • Colonial Office explained that BC would have to wait until Rupert’s Land (still owned by HBC at this time) became part of Canada What were the options for British Columbia? • Confederation – join Canada • Annexation – join the United States • Status Quo – remain the same (as a British colony)

30. For or Against Confederation?

31. Confederation Achieved • Gov. Seymour died in 1869 • Gov. Anthony Musgrave, who advocated Confederation, was a friend of Canadian PM Sir John A MacDonald, replaced Seymour. • BC’s Assembly was divided by members from Vancouver Island who opposed confederation and members from the Mainland who supported it. Colonial officials in BC (mostly British) also opposed it. • Musgrave needed to reconcile these groups • He guaranteed Colonial officials pensions and jobs from the Canadian government • Colonial officials were also alarmed by Annexationists by forcing them to chose between Canada or the US • Musgrave chose Helmcken, Carrol and Joseph Trutch to be delegates to Ottawa for the Confederation negotiations • The Canadians gave in to all their demands: the railway was to built in two years, BC’s debt paid, etc. • AND gave responsible government