WHY BOTHER?

Factors for Confederation

Shape of the Class

Admin Current events Why bother? Group research Factors for Confederation Wrap-up

“Elbow room”

What might this mean for Canada?

Group work

Move into your colony groups

You will receive a slip of paper with a factor that influenced the colonies in favour of Confederation

Using your text, explain what your factor is, how it influenced life for people in the colonies and why it would make them want to join together

Security

Fenian raids Irish American “freedom

fighters” Furious with the British Attacked the nearest British

colony

U.S.Civil War Britain traded with the

southern states Didn’t make the north very

happy

Security

Manifest Destiny The view held that

America had the right to control all of North America

Gold Rush in BC Americans came

in huge numbers

Age of Rail

Train were the way of the future in the Victorian era

But they were expensive to build and maintain

Intercontinental railway

Would link coast to coast, providing a buffer against American settlement

Would encourage westward expansion

Link the Maritimes to central Canada’s manufacturing

Trade (with Britain)

Corn Laws Preferential treatment for Britain and

colonies No tariffs on cereal grains Repealed in 1846

U.S. is able to cut in and trade for much cheaper The colonies need to find additional trade

partners

Trade (with the U.S.)

Reciprocity Agreement 10 year free trade deal signed in 1854 The U.S. declines to re-sign or extend in

1865

The colonies are then forced to look for new trade partners again Who else could they trade with?

Changing British Attitudes

Britain is less and less interested in in defending, supporting and propping up the colonies

Colonies must fend for themselves

Political deadlock

A new federal government using rep by pop would break the deadlock in Canada East and West

Is this a factor “for” or “against” confederation? For who?