British Columbia

How did two colonies become one?

Governors

James Douglas and Richard Moody

Douglas: Governor of Vancouver Island

Moody: Governor of British Columbia

Fort Langley or New Westminster?

Capital remain at south side of Fraser River – Fort Langley

Moody believed it should be on the North side – New Westminster

Douglas accepts north side

New Westminster is the capital

City Plans = $$$

Moody had drawn up impeccable sketches of what the town would look like

Douglas believed they should establish themselves first before being extravagant.

Moody spent too much money on the plans

Capital city was not built to Moody’s standard

Victoria vs New West

Gold rush brought prosperity to New Westminster

But mainlanders were upset that Douglas and senior officials live on the Island

Victoria free port – no custom duties

Commercial rivalry between these two places

Responsible Government

Vancouver Island had an elected Assembly

Right to vote was limited to property owners

Mainland rested on what Douglas and his Legislative Council did.

Reform group was formed on the mainland

Changes

Mainland people wanted an Elected Assembly with responsible government

In 3 years Douglas had raised the taxes 3 times

But reformers found little support from miners

Miners are benefiting from the taxes

Vancouver Island also forms a reform movement

De cosmos – strongly disagreed with the “family compact”

They too demanded responsible government

1863 – BC Act

British Columbia Act was up for review

Colonial office had ignored the reformers request for responsible government

Pressure causes Douglas to cave slightly

Douglas retired in 1863

Union of Two Colonies

two governors after Douglas

Arthur Kennedy – Vancouver Island

Frederick Seymour – British Columbia

Both find their colonies in economic trouble

Kennedy appealed to Colonial Office for assistance

Kennedy proposed taxes on real estate and income

Colonial secretary now considered joining the two colonies

United Colonies

Became known as British Columbia

Seymour was made governor of British Columbia

Assembly members in Victoria thought the Island city should be the capital

1868, Victoria proclaimed the capital

Class Activity

Black textbook

Answer question 1-4 on page 175

To be completed in class

As a class will go over the answers

When you finish you may work with your group on finalizing your game board