Pushed Together

PUSHED TOGETHERFive Problems Leading to Confederation

War & Expansionism – 1860’s

• American Civil War – North vs South• Big Issue – Slavery in Southern States• War ended in 1865• Britain supported the South• Manifest Destiny – One country/ One

Continent

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsEl97kZUpM

• Robert E Lee – Confederate General

War & Expansionism

• Reaction to American Civil War

• A united British North American could better defend itself against American invasion.

Problems with the Fenians• Canada was invaded by Irish Americans after the Civil

War• Fenian revenge for British control of Ireland

Fenians

Trouble with Trade

• Fish, timber, grain cattle – Canadians

• Coal, pork – United States• Reciprocity Agreement ended

after Civil War (1864)• American hostility • Solution: Trade among British

Colonies

Need for a Railway

• 1850 – 106 km’s of track in BNA• 1867 – 3570 were added• Unites States had 14,484 km of track

• Railway needed for trade• Protection – Movement of Troops• Cost Sharing among Colonies• Further Expansion Westward• ‘A mare usque a mare’

Changing British Attitudes

• Little Englanders – vocal about cost of colonies• Defense was especially expensive• Let Colonies look after themselves!

Dominion of Canada 1867

Fathers of Confederation

British North America Act