Path To ConfederationPath To Confederation

Act of Union 1840Act of Union 1840

United Upper and Lower Canada under United Upper and Lower Canada under one governmentone government

They became known as East & West They became known as East & West CanadaCanada

Started with equal representationStarted with equal representation As English population increased they As English population increased they

demanded representation by populationdemanded representation by population This angered the FrenchThis angered the French

Act of Union Cont…Act of Union Cont…

It was unfairIt was unfair Upper Canada had fewer people and Upper Canada had fewer people and

higher debthigher debt The French language was bannedThe French language was banned

However Louis Lafontaine and Robert However Louis Lafontaine and Robert Baldwin worked together to make it Baldwin worked together to make it fairerfairer

Tensions between French and English Tensions between French and English caused political stalematecaused political stalemate

Calls for FederationCalls for Federation

By the 1850’s there were By the 1850’s there were movements within the government movements within the government to unite all the BNA coloniesto unite all the BNA colonies

By 1864 a coalition government led By 1864 a coalition government led by George Brown, John A. by George Brown, John A. MacDonald and George-Etienne MacDonald and George-Etienne Cartier were pushing for Cartier were pushing for ConfederationConfederation

This would strengthen the colonies This would strengthen the colonies as a wholeas a whole

Britain’s SupportBritain’s Support

By this time the British Empire was in By this time the British Empire was in declinedecline

They wanted to get rid of financial They wanted to get rid of financial responsibility for their coloniesresponsibility for their colonies

Also they wanted strong colonies in Also they wanted strong colonies in light of the American Civil War which light of the American Civil War which was taking place (1861-1865)was taking place (1861-1865)

The MaritimesThe Maritimes

At the same time in 1864 NS At the same time in 1864 NS (Charles Tupper) and NB (Samuel (Charles Tupper) and NB (Samuel Tilley) were trying to convince PEI Tilley) were trying to convince PEI (John Gray) to join a Maritime (John Gray) to join a Maritime ConfederationConfederation

They were geographically separate They were geographically separate from the rest of BNA and could be from the rest of BNA and could be stronger by joiningstronger by joining

Tilley and Tupper suggested a Tilley and Tupper suggested a conference in Charlottetownconference in Charlottetown

The Charlottetown ConferenceThe Charlottetown Conference

The coalition government of Brown, The coalition government of Brown, MacDonald and Cartier crashed the MacDonald and Cartier crashed the partyparty

While NS and NB were arguing for a While NS and NB were arguing for a Maritime Confederation, they argued Maritime Confederation, they argued for a BNA Confederationfor a BNA Confederation

The Maritime provinces warmed to The Maritime provinces warmed to the idea of a larger unionthe idea of a larger union

Quebec ResolutionsQuebec Resolutions

Oct. 1864- 33 members from BNA met Oct. 1864- 33 members from BNA met in Quebec to discuss the details of in Quebec to discuss the details of unionunion

They tried to learn from the mistakes They tried to learn from the mistakes of France and USAof France and USA Strong central governmentStrong central government Rep-by-popRep-by-pop Senate would have equal repSenate would have equal rep

Most of the resolutions were written by Most of the resolutions were written by John A. MacDonaldJohn A. MacDonald

OppositionOpposition

While the idea of Confederation was While the idea of Confederation was popular in East/West Canada, it was popular in East/West Canada, it was quite unpopular in the Maritimesquite unpopular in the Maritimes

NFLD and PEI both found no support NFLD and PEI both found no support from their populations and did not from their populations and did not pursue itpursue it

Opposition in NBOpposition in NB

While Tilley wanted to join the voters of While Tilley wanted to join the voters of NB did not like the ideaNB did not like the idea

His party lost an election in 1865 of His party lost an election in 1865 of which Confederation was the main issuewhich Confederation was the main issue

The new government fell apart in a year The new government fell apart in a year and a new election was called in 1866and a new election was called in 1866

NB Cont…NB Cont…

At the same time in 1866 a small At the same time in 1866 a small Irish-American “terrorist” group Irish-American “terrorist” group known as the Fenians launched raids known as the Fenians launched raids on British colonieson British colonies

This caused enough fear that Tilley This caused enough fear that Tilley was able to convince NB of the need was able to convince NB of the need for a Union with central Canadafor a Union with central Canada

Issues in NSIssues in NS

Tupper was in a good positionTupper was in a good position

He wanted confederation and he was He wanted confederation and he was in power in NSin power in NS

He did not need to call an election He did not need to call an election until 1867 so he drove Confederation until 1867 so he drove Confederation through despite oppositionthrough despite opposition

NS Cont…NS Cont… The loudest voice of opposition was Joseph The loudest voice of opposition was Joseph

HoweHowe He believed that Confederation served the He believed that Confederation served the

purposes of Central Canada over the purposes of Central Canada over the concerns of the smaller Maritime regionconcerns of the smaller Maritime region

He argued that Tupper should call an election He argued that Tupper should call an election on the issueon the issue

Howe also petitioned Britain directly to stop Howe also petitioned Britain directly to stop Tupper, but no action was takenTupper, but no action was taken

In the end NS was dragged into the deal by In the end NS was dragged into the deal by TupperTupper

BNA ActBNA Act During the three years after the During the three years after the

Charlottetown conference the leaders Charlottetown conference the leaders of Canada, NB and NS worked on of Canada, NB and NS worked on drafting an agreementdrafting an agreement

In March of 1867 the BNA Act was In March of 1867 the BNA Act was passed into British Lawpassed into British Law

Canada became a sovereign nation on Canada became a sovereign nation on July 1, of that same yearJuly 1, of that same year

The Act was signed by Ontario, The Act was signed by Ontario, Quebec, NS and NBQuebec, NS and NB