Chapter 8 Confederation

Chapter 8Chapter 8ConfederationConfederation

Focus QuestionsFocus Questions

What issues shaped confederation?What issues shaped confederation? What ideas about citizenship shaped What ideas about citizenship shaped

confederation?confederation? What factors led to other provinces What factors led to other provinces

joining confederation?joining confederation?

What Was Confederation?What Was Confederation?

Confederation was an agreement among some Confederation was an agreement among some of the colonies of British North America to join of the colonies of British North America to join together. It established rules about Canadian together. It established rules about Canadian society. society. Equality in Canada for French and English languages.Equality in Canada for French and English languages. Central Government with provincial governments.Central Government with provincial governments.

It excluded First Nations as citizens of Canada… It excluded First Nations as citizens of Canada… (Today First nation continually work to change (Today First nation continually work to change the idea of citizenship that first shaped Canada)the idea of citizenship that first shaped Canada)

Background InformationBackground Information

Five British Colonies that considered Five British Colonies that considered Confederation in the 1860’s:Confederation in the 1860’s:

Canada West Canada West Canada EastCanada East Nova ScotiaNova Scotia New BrunswickNew Brunswick Prince Edward IslandPrince Edward Island

John A MacDonaldJohn A MacDonald From Canada West. From Canada West. Was one of the volunteers Was one of the volunteers

who attacked and defeated who attacked and defeated Mackenzie’s Rebels in 1837.Mackenzie’s Rebels in 1837.

LawyerLawyer He wanted to create a nation He wanted to create a nation

that stretched from ‘sea to that stretched from ‘sea to sea’ and maintain ties with sea’ and maintain ties with Britain.Britain.

Believe in accommodating Believe in accommodating people to achieve people to achieve agreement… gave provincial agreement… gave provincial governments control over governments control over some of their own affairs some of their own affairs (education).(education).

Canada’s first Prime Canada’s first Prime Minister.Minister.

George Etienne CartierGeorge Etienne Cartier From Canada East.From Canada East. From wealthy family in From wealthy family in

Lower Canada/ fought Lower Canada/ fought with the patriots.with the patriots.

Didn’t want Canada to Didn’t want Canada to become a republic like become a republic like the US.the US.

Wanted provinces to Wanted provinces to control issues like control issues like language and religion language and religion ( Catholic Church played ( Catholic Church played an important role in an important role in politics of Canada East).politics of Canada East).

George BrownGeorge Brown From Canada East.From Canada East. Founded today’s Globe and Founded today’s Globe and

Mail newspaper.Mail newspaper. Didn’t support confederation Didn’t support confederation

at first.at first. Wanted representation by Wanted representation by

population… this would population… this would have given the English more have given the English more power.power.

Harshly criticized John A Harshly criticized John A MacDonald. MacDonald.

1864 he changed his mind 1864 he changed his mind and wanted the British and wanted the British colonies to control Rupert’s colonies to control Rupert’s Land. He was afraid if they Land. He was afraid if they didn’t it would be taken over didn’t it would be taken over by the US.by the US.

Got shot in the leg and died Got shot in the leg and died (infection).(infection).

Etienne Paschal TacheEtienne Paschal Tache Was a Patriot in the Was a Patriot in the

rebellions of 1837- rebellions of 1837- 1838.1838.

Believed Canadians Believed Canadians could safe guard their could safe guard their heritage as a province heritage as a province of Canada.of Canada.

Believed that the Believed that the leaders of Canada East leaders of Canada East and West had to and West had to cooperate.cooperate.

Worked well with John Worked well with John A MacDonald.A MacDonald.

Key Confederation Key Confederation IssuesIssues

Political DeadlockPolitical Deadlock

Canada East and Canada East and Canada West had an Canada West had an equal number of equal number of seats in the seats in the province’s assembly.province’s assembly.

Question Of Rights For CanadiensQuestion Of Rights For Canadiens

Canadiens had protected their language and Canadiens had protected their language and religion despite the Act of Union that tried to religion despite the Act of Union that tried to assimilate them. They needed a guarantee that assimilate them. They needed a guarantee that any new political arrangement would recognize any new political arrangement would recognize and respect their rights.and respect their rights.

Some Canadien leaders saw confederation as Some Canadien leaders saw confederation as the only option to protect their rights. the only option to protect their rights.

Others felt Confederation would be a threat and Others felt Confederation would be a threat and the Federal Government would have too much the Federal Government would have too much power.power.

Independence For RegionsIndependence For Regions

Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island were British colonies but they governed were British colonies but they governed themselves. themselves.

They worried they would lose their They worried they would lose their independence if they were governed by independence if they were governed by Canada East and Canada West.Canada East and Canada West.

Also thought it might be too expensive… Also thought it might be too expensive…

Risk of Annexation From USRisk of Annexation From US

Worried the Worried the Americans would Americans would expand.expand.

Western ExpansionWestern Expansion

In the 1860’s, Canada In the 1860’s, Canada West had developed West had developed most of the good most of the good farmland.farmland.

George Brown George Brown wanted to expand into wanted to expand into Rupert’s Land but Rupert’s Land but worried the worried the Americans would do Americans would do so as well.so as well.

Trade ChallengesTrade Challenges Britain had regulated the economy of British North Britain had regulated the economy of British North

America. America. Mercantilism meant that British paid as low a price as Mercantilism meant that British paid as low a price as

possible for resources from the colonies but it also possible for resources from the colonies but it also meant that the colonies could sell to Britain.meant that the colonies could sell to Britain.

1840’s Britain took steps to end Mercantilism. They 1840’s Britain took steps to end Mercantilism. They would only by from the colonies if it was the cheapest would only by from the colonies if it was the cheapest price.price.

British North America had an agreement with the US British North America had an agreement with the US that they could sell their goods to the US for a that they could sell their goods to the US for a competitive price, but in 1865 the US added a tariff competitive price, but in 1865 the US added a tariff (tax) to goods bought from British North America… (tax) to goods bought from British North America… which would make BNA’s goods higher priced in the which would make BNA’s goods higher priced in the US.US.

Confederation DealConfederation Deal

The colonies involved The colonies involved in the confederation in the confederation negotiations wanted to negotiations wanted to protect regional rights. protect regional rights.

They did not want a They did not want a central government central government that took away the that took away the power of each region power of each region to make important to make important decisions on its own.decisions on its own.

British North America Act 1867British North America Act 1867 Created the Dominion of CanadaCreated the Dominion of Canada formed from the former formed from the former

colonies of Canada which included Canada East, Canada colonies of Canada which included Canada East, Canada West, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. West, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland did not join.Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland did not join. BNA Act gave the federal government the right to make laws BNA Act gave the federal government the right to make laws

for the peace, order and good governmentfor the peace, order and good government The act established French and English as the languages of The act established French and English as the languages of

Canada’ s Parliament.Canada’ s Parliament. Guaranteed public schools for the Protestant/English in Guaranteed public schools for the Protestant/English in

Quebec and French/ Catholic Schools in the rest of Canada.Quebec and French/ Catholic Schools in the rest of Canada. Gave the government the right to protect minorities in any Gave the government the right to protect minorities in any

province in the future.province in the future. Established representation by population for the House of Established representation by population for the House of

Commons.Commons. New government would pay for a railway linking the Maritimes New government would pay for a railway linking the Maritimes

with central Canada.with central Canada.

Maritimes & ConfederationMaritimes & Confederation

The Maritimes had strong economic ties The Maritimes had strong economic ties with Britain and the Caribbean based on with Britain and the Caribbean based on trade by sea.trade by sea.

If the Maritimes joined, Canada promised If the Maritimes joined, Canada promised them a railway linking them to Central them a railway linking them to Central Canada.Canada.

It was not a popular decision to join It was not a popular decision to join confederation.confederation.

First Nations & ConfederationFirst Nations & Confederation

First Nations & ConfederationFirst Nations & Confederation During the confederation negotiations, the During the confederation negotiations, the

colonies of British North America did not consult colonies of British North America did not consult any First Nations.any First Nations.

The idea of citizenship was different then. The idea of citizenship was different then. Examples include:Examples include: 1857 Gradual Civilization Act: required that First 1857 Gradual Civilization Act: required that First

Nations give up their ways before they could Nations give up their ways before they could become citizens of Canadabecome citizens of Canada

1867 British North America Act: First Nations 1867 British North America Act: First Nations become a part of the federal government’s become a part of the federal government’s responsibilities.responsibilities.

Until 1960: Only those who gave up their Indian Until 1960: Only those who gave up their Indian Status were allowed to vote.Status were allowed to vote.

Other Provinces Join CanadaOther Provinces Join Canada

1867 1867 Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia Part of the original Confederation agreement.Scotia Part of the original Confederation agreement.

1870 1870 Manitoba refused to be transferred as a Manitoba refused to be transferred as a territory, demanded to join as a province.territory, demanded to join as a province.

18711871 British Columbia joined as province. British Columbia joined as province. 1873 1873 Prince Edward Island joined as a province.Prince Edward Island joined as a province.

1905 1905 Alberta and Saskatchewan created from a Alberta and Saskatchewan created from a territory and transferred to Canada.territory and transferred to Canada.

1949 1949 Newfoundland joined as a province.Newfoundland joined as a province.

British ColumbiaBritish Columbia BC was a British colony because of the British BC was a British colony because of the British

Explorer George Vancouver.Explorer George Vancouver. First colonists made their living with the fur trade.First colonists made their living with the fur trade. 1857 the gold rush began. It was an economic boom 1857 the gold rush began. It was an economic boom

and the colony borrowed money to pay for roads etc.and the colony borrowed money to pay for roads etc. The boom didn’t last long and then the colony went The boom didn’t last long and then the colony went

into debt. There didn’t seem to be a big future.into debt. There didn’t seem to be a big future. Some colonists wanted to join the USA. Some Some colonists wanted to join the USA. Some

wanted to join Canada.wanted to join Canada. The Canadian government wanted the country to The Canadian government wanted the country to

stretch from “sea to sea” so the offered to pay off stretch from “sea to sea” so the offered to pay off BC’s debt and build a railway to link them to the rest BC’s debt and build a railway to link them to the rest of the country.of the country.

Prince Edward IslandPrince Edward Island

1870, the colony of Prince Edward Island 1870, the colony of Prince Edward Island began to have economic trouble. began to have economic trouble. ( Borrowed money for a railway and ( Borrowed money for a railway and many farms did not own the land…it was many farms did not own the land…it was owned by those in Britain)owned by those in Britain)

Felt that joining confederation would Felt that joining confederation would help solve it’s problems.help solve it’s problems.

Canada agreed to pay off the colony’s Canada agreed to pay off the colony’s railway and buy the island’s farmland as railway and buy the island’s farmland as well as provide year round ferry service.well as provide year round ferry service.

NewfoundlandNewfoundland Newfoundland reject Confederation in 1867 and Newfoundland reject Confederation in 1867 and

1869.1869. Had a successful economy in fish and lumber.Had a successful economy in fish and lumber. 1930’s during the Great Depression, the world cut 1930’s during the Great Depression, the world cut

back on trade and Newfoundland could no longer back on trade and Newfoundland could no longer afford to pay for it’s hospitals, school and other afford to pay for it’s hospitals, school and other services.services.

Britain then took direct control of Newfoundland Britain then took direct control of Newfoundland until after WWII. until after WWII.

After WWII, Britain said it could no longer afford to After WWII, Britain said it could no longer afford to assist Newfoundland.assist Newfoundland.

Newfoundlanders then voted whether they should Newfoundlanders then voted whether they should join Canada or stay independent. It was a close vote join Canada or stay independent. It was a close vote but joining Canada won.but joining Canada won.