Colonies to Province British Columbia
Colonies to Province
British Columbia
From Colonies to Confederation
• Physical Context• Human Context
• Indigenous• European Explorers• European Leaders
• Joining Confederation• Timeline• Demands• Taking its Place
Physical Context
Human Context- Indigenous Peoples
Human Context- Indigenous Peoples
Source: http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/data/cen01/abor/aborbc.pdf
Confederation- Timeline
Confederation (?)Three options for BC after 1867:
1. Remain a Crown Colony (Status Quo)2. Annexation to the United States3. Confederation
(pg 178)Three main problems for Confederation:
1. Geography -Distance from Ottawa and London2. Economic – Links to US which was more
developed (transportation/communication – railroads/telegraphs)
3. Defence – Britain needed base on the Pacific but Esquimalt expensive to maintain
Confederation (?)Three options for BC after 1867:
1. Remain a Crown Colony (Status Quo)2. Annexation to the United States3. Confederation
(pg 178)
Confederation (?)Colony Province State
Confederation- The “Players”Anti-Confederation led by J.S.
Helmckem, he like Governor Seymour, did not think Confederation practical
Pro-Confederation position most vocal leader was Amor de Cosmos who thought Confederation would lead to “Responsible Government”
Annexationists were mostly merchants in Victoria who thought joining the US would strengthen the economy
Confederation- Opposing ForcesGov. Seymour died in 1869Gov. 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
Confederation: Musgrave’s Solution: 1870He guaranteed Colonial officials pensions and
jobs from the Canadian governmentColonial 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
Confederation
Confederation- A good deal?
Yes- Canada Yes- BC
No- Canada No- BC
Confederation- Taking its Place
HomeworkPage 185#1#6#10