Horton High School's Canadian
History 12 Web Page and Student
Resource
Chapter 15 - Canada Becomes a Country
- Confederation, 1867
by the 1850s, the Canadas had a distinct
political system with parties of varying differences and philosophies.
The Liberal-Conservatives were led in Upper Canada by John A. Macdonald
and George Etienne Cartier in Lower Canada. The Reform Party wanted sweeping
reforms made to the system, the Rouges represented anti-English control
in Quebec, namely with business and culture, while the Conservatives and
Liberals [Tories and Grits respectively] were forerunners of their present
parties, the Progressive Conservatives and the Liberals. The Liberal-Conservatives,
largely tory based, wanted the union of the Canadas and made this their
most important goal.
1854 Election - L.C.s elected in both Canadas,
with no majority.
1858 - Ottawa chosen as the capital of
the Canadas, by Queen Victoria.
in 1841 the Canadas attempted to unite,
but this fell through due to lack of cohesion with a number of issues.
The Maritimes also attempted this [N.S. & N.B.] but this too fell through.
at this time, the Canadas had more economic
stability than ever before, an overall desire for more independence and
a growing sense of unity between the regions.
in 1864, the British government, sensing
this, organized the Charlottetown Conference. Delegates from N.S., N.B.,
P.E.I. and the two Canadas met in the small "city" of Charlottetown to
discuss, amongst other things, the potential of union.
the pro-Union group was led by Macdonald,
Cartier and George Brown, a famous journalist and life-long enemy of Macdonald.
Saw the potential for strong economic ties between the regions, and Macdonald
envisioned a railroad connecting the regions.
the delegates left Charlottetown with a
good feeling about a union, and agreed to meet again, this being in Quebec
a few months later.
the Quebec Conference of December 1864
was well attended, with Newfoundland also sending a delegation. They would
choose to remain out of Confederation and remain a colony of Britain until
1949. Despite the differences in cultures and regions, the delegates chose
to unite for a greater good - confederation. Macdonald led the charge,
calling for a strong central government, unlike the U.S.A., which was currently
embroiled in a bloody civil war. the P.E.I. delegation chose to stay out
at this time, fearing the small island province would be swallowed up by
the larger provinces.
at the Quebec Conference the "72 Resolutions"
were passed as a foundation for Confederation. Called for a central government
with provincial and federal governments. Authority over certain issues,
such as finance and education, would be divided between the two levels.
Also called for an Upper [Senate] and Lower [Commons] House, and they would
remain loyal to Britain. They also spoke of having an inter-colonial railway,
completed "without delay". Now the delegates returned to their home colonies
to get support, while the pro-Unionists sent Brown off to Britain to speak
with Queen Victoria.
1865 - Brown received initial approval
from Victoria, so long as loyalty would remain with Britain, and it was
promised it would be written into the constitution. Generally speaking,
the Upper Canadians supported Confederation, with the hopes of opening
up the west to further expansion and exploitation. Lower Canadians feared
the loss of their identity which had been recognized by the British with
the Quebec Act. Yet Cartier was an eloquent politician who promised this
would not happen. In the Maritimes, the anti-Unionists showed some might
early on, as Premier Tilley [N.B.] a pro-Union supporter, was voted out
of power and Howe was making noise in Nova Scotia against the idea of Union.
Howe's strong opposition led to Premier Tupper not even submitting the
"72 Resolutions" to the House for approval. The British saw Confederation
as a chance to ease some financial burdens all the while keeping close
ties to their colonies, so they went after the anti-Unionists in the Maritimes
and spent much money and energy on getting the pro-Unionists re-elected
and strong. In the 1866 N.B. election, Tilley was returned to power after
an aggressive and expensive advertising campaign, with the aid of Britain,
while Tupper, seeing the success of Tilley in N.B., pressed the N.S. Legislature
to accept union, which it did, despite Howe's concerns.
December 1866 - the London Conference -
chaired by Macdonald. It was agreed that "Canada" would be the nation's
name and it would officially become a country as of July 1st.
in March of 1867 the British North America
Act was passed, forming the Dominion of Canada, comprised of Upper Canada
[Ontario], Lower Canada [Quebec], Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. This was
signed by Queen Victoria.
