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Confederation. Tragedy in Ottawa. Read the article entitled Tragedy in Ottawa and answer the questions that follow. Tragedy in Ottawa.
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Tragedy in Ottawa Read the article entitled Tragedy in Ottawa and answer the questions that follow.
Tragedy in Ottawa 1. D’Arcy McGee was assassinated after Confederation had been won in 1867. What effect do you think the news of his assassination had on people in the new country of Canada? • D’Arcy was popular with both Irish and non-Irish Canadians. • Citizens at that time might react with anger and demand government reprisals against the Fenians. • The fact that the country was newly formed might make some insecure, especially since McGee was a strong supporter of Confederation. 2.What does the murder of D’Arcy McGee suggest about the atmosphere in Canada around the time of Confederation? • Political assassination is a last-resort protest. • Just as there were differences that existed among the colonies, there was a division among the citizens of the colonies over uniting.
D’Arcy McGee • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0xyKgE9VNw&feature=related • editor, politician, and poet • He is, to date, the only Canadian victim of political assassination at the federal level. • Patrick J. Whelan was hanged with an audience of 5,000 people. This was the last public hanging of Canada.
The Charlottetown Conference • Sept. 1st, 1864. Charlottetown, PEI • The Maritime provinces were talking about a Maritime union. • The Canadians had asked to attend as they wanted to forth their plan of all British North American provinces to unite – for Confederation • PEI was considered the cradle of Confederation.
The Charlottetown Conference • The Canadians were asked to speak first, which included: George Cartier, John A. MacDonald, George Brown, Alexander Galt and D’Arcy McGee was also present. • They spoke of the advantages of uniting: • Free trade between the colonies = Businesses would grow and jobs would be plentiful; • An intercolonial railway could be built to connect all provinces; • A central government would be set up for matters affecting all provinces – but each province would still have its own government to look after its own affairs. They agreed to meet and discuss the idea of Confederation at the Quebec Conference.
The Quebec Conference • Oct. 28th, 1964. Quebec City, Quebec. • 7 delegates from NB • 7 delegates from PEI • 5 delegates from NS • 2 delegates from NFLD (they were not at the Charlottetown conference) • 12 delegates from Canada East and Canada West. • These people are considered the Fathers of Confederation. • They work out a plan known as the Seventy-Two Resolutions.
Highlights of the Seventy-Two Resolutions • There would be a strong central (federal) government to look after affairs affecting the whole country such as defence, trade, and foreign affairs. • Each province would have its own government to look after local matters. • The system of government would follow the British Constitution and the head of the government would be the king or queen of England. • The federal government would be made up of an elected House of Commons and an appointed Legislative Council (Senate). • Members of the House of Commons would be elected according to the principle of representation by population. • Members of the Legislative Council would be appointed and each region would have 24 members. (Canada West, Canada East and Atlantic Canada) • NFLD and NWT and BC would be allowed into the union as terms could be worked out.
Canada West They would become a powerful nation It would provide a barrier-free market Canada would become the third largest seagoing nation in the world after Britain the USA It would encourage people to immigrate to Canada In case of war, they would stand together
Canada East • Cartier explained that French and English would be equal partners. He promised that they would not lose their way of life. He said that if they did not join that they could be swallowed by the USA. • Dorian wanted a referendum, which means that all the people of Canada East would be given a chance to vote on the question and not just members of the Assembly. His request was refused. • The vote went in favour of Confederation.
New Brunswick • Premier Tilly was in favour of Confederation and decided to have an election on the question. • The anti-confederates believed that NB would lose too much control over their own affairs. • At the Quebec Conference, it had been decided that each province would receive a sum of money (subsidy) each year from the central government. The amount was based on the population of the colony. In NB, this amounted to .80 cents per person. • Opponents complained that Tilly was selling New Brunswickers out for .80 cents each • Tilly and his party was defeated
Nova Scotia • Leading anti-confederate was Joseph Howe. He was the best known politician in Atlantic Canada. • He was also a popular newspaper editor. • He influenced many people with his “Botheration Letters.” • Comparing Confederation to a piece of cloth, it is weak and poorly planned piece of material. Is it a good idea to put new wine (NS) in an old bottle (Province of Canada) or to attach new cloth to an old item of clothing? Is union strong when a wise man, doing a steady business, is tricked into joining a gambler? Was Samson stronger when combined with Delilah, who tied him with ropes and cut off his hair? • The premier of NS was Charles Tupper, who decided to wait as he did not want the same result as NB.
PEI Advantages were unclear. PEI was a small colony and would only have a small amount of representatives in a Canadian government. There was widespread opposition and the topic was dropped PEI joined in 1873.
NFLD and Labrador • They felt few ties with Canada and Confederation had little appeal. • They had longstanding bonds with Britain. • CF Bennett, a wealthy merchant, spoke out against Confederation. He warned that the government would tax their boats, fish etc. and that goods in Canada would be so cheap that NFLD products would not sell. • On the night Confederation was defeated in NFLD, there was a parade in St. John’s. Anti-confederationists pushed a large coffin labeled Confederation.The coffin was buried during a fake funeral. • NFLD did not join confederation until 1949.
Anti-Confederation song from NFLD http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmEH1LUV3nE Hurrah for our own native isle, NFLD! Not a stranger shall hold one inch of its strand! Her face turns to Britain, her back to the Gulf, Come near at your peril, Canadian Wolf! Ye Brave NewFoundlanders who plough the salt sea With hearts like the eagle so bold and so free, The time is at hand when you’ll all have to say If Confederation will carry the day. Cheap tea and molasses they say they will give, All taxes take off that the poor man may live; Cheap nails and cheap lumber our coffins to make, And homespun to men our old clothes when they break. If they take off the taxes how then will they meet The heavy expense of the country’s upkeep? Just give them the chance to get us in the scrape And they’ll chain us like slaves with pen, ink, and red tape.
Anti-Confederation song from NFLD Would you barter the rights that your fathers have won, Your freedom transmitted from father to son? For a few thousand dollars of Canadian gold, Don’t let it be said that your birthright was sold. Then hurrah for our own native isle, Newfoundland! Not a stranger shall hold one inch of its strand! Her face turns to Britain, her back to the Gulf, Come near at your peril, Canadian Wolf!
Anti-Confederation song from NFLD 1. What objections does this song suggest Newfoundlanders had to Confederation? • The song suggests Newfoundlanders had the objections to Confederation because the rest of Canada would exploit the colony’s rich reserves of natural resources and giving nothing in return. The song also implies that joining Confederation would be disloyal to Britain. 2. Why is a folk song an effective way to express feelings about key issues? • The lyrics are usually written in catchy phrases and in a language used by common people.
Outcome of Atlantic Colonies • PEI and NFLD were not ready in 1867 • Britain supported the idea as it would mean only one colonial government to deal with. They would also not have to send soldiers and expanding west would create more business opportunities. • Britain instructed the lieutenant-governor to arrange for a pro-confederation decision Former Premier Tilly took up the cause again – he received money from railway promoters, shipping and timber interests and the Canadian government. US also ended free trade. They played up the Fenian raids and Tilly won. • In NS, a new, pro-Confederation, lieutenant-governor was appointed. Sir Fenwick Williams was a hero in the British navy and he backed up Tupper. • Tupper and Tilly pushed for union.
The British North America Act • Dec. 1866, London Conference • Canada East and West, NB and NS • Revised the 72 Resolutions so they would be passed as an act and made law in British Parliament. • The British North America Act went into effect on July 1st, 1867. • It created “One Dominion under the Name of Canada.” • Dominion is a term form a verse in the Bible that described a land that reached from sea to sea. The Dominion of Canada became the official name of our country.
Canada Day! • On July 1st, 1867, many are celebrating Canada Day with parades, picnics etc.. • Anti-Confederationists display flags at half-mast • They wear black clothes as a sign of mouning • A likeness of Dr. Tupper is burned side-by-side with a rat in NS • In NB, a newspaper carries a death notice on its front page: Died – at her residence in the city of Fredericton, the province of New Brunswick, in the 83rd year of her age.
