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Canadas Government
DEMOCRACY = the people hold the power
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMMENT = citizens elect
people to make decisions for them. These people
make laws in the best interest of the people
CABINET = small group chosen by the Prime
Minister to run the government
RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT = cabinet must
answer to the elected representatives

What is
CONFEDERATION?

The process by
which the
Dominion of
Canada was
formed on July 1,
1867

Canada West
Canada East
Nova Scotia
New Brunswick
Newfoundland
PEI
British Columbia

What Factors led to Confederation

in British North America?
#1: Political Deadlock in the Province of
Canada
#2: Shifting Trade Relations
#3: Defending British North America

#1: Political Deadlock

Look at the map on pg 149 of your text
Province of Canada has one Assembly (government)
(because of Act of Union)
English make up majority so Canadiens were outvoted
English were divided into two groups: Reformers and
Tories (Conservatives)constant rivals
Canada west wants Representation by population
because they have more population. Canada East isnt
interested.
Then Canada West gets more people and now wants rep
by pop
Fight over rep by pop leads to deadlocks in Assembly

#2: Shifting Trade Partners

Mercantile system isnt working for Britain

anymore
Manufacturing got bigger in Britain and they
needed more places to sell goods
Britain reduced taxes and began free trade with
all countries so the colonies werent guaranteed a
market for their goods anymore
Britain gave colonies greater control over affairs
because they dont need them for trade anymore

- Reciprocity created in 1848 Britain and USA.

Fish, timber and grain flow freely across the
boarder
Good for the colonies but not for America, so
they cancelled the deal 10 years later
BNA doesnt know what to do now...if they form
a union between the colonies, they could trade
with each other!
Union meant Canada West would have access
to Maritime ports and transport goods overseas
Maritimes would gain more customers

#3: Defending British North

The
American Civil War and Why it was
America
Important:
Northern States vs. Southern States
Issues: slavery and independent state
control
North opposes slavery, most of British
North America does too
Britain relies on cotton plantations in
American south (that enslaved African
Americans) for textile industry
Northern USA suspicious of Britain AND
its colonies

 North won the war

Some Americans want to go north and fight
(punish Britain for supporting south)
Some Americans believe in Manifest
Destiny
Colonies realize they can protect selves
from USA if they form a union

Confederation & the

Maritime Colonies

economy growing fish, lumber,

grain and coal
wanted to expand their trade with
Britain and the US, NOT Canada

Maritimes are Doing

Well
Golden Age 1840-1870
Age of wind, wood, and sail
Shipbuilders respected
British North America has worlds 4th
largest shipping fleet and most were built
in Maritimes
Major exports: fish, lumber, grain and coal
Nova Scotia one of largest coal producers

First Nations dont get economic benefits

Many were assigned
reserve lands and the
land wasnt good for farming
Natural resources were
disappearing
Black Loyalists faced racism/discrimination

George Brown gets Liberal-Conservatives to support

federalism: each colony keeps its own government
Delegates from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and
Prince Edward Island meet to talk about Maritime
union
WHAT PEOPLE SAID
Lets read the opinions on page 159

Decisions of the Colonies

PROVINCE OF CANADA
Canada West in favour of union
Canada East not so sure because of French language
Francophones promised theyd have language protected
NEW BRUNSWICK
Worried that larger colonies would dominate
Eventually supported with promise of railroad
NOVA SCOTIA
Joseph Howe worried that people would have to pay
more taxes and money would go elsewhere
Eventually voted to join union with promise of railroad
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Isolated from other colonies and very small
Did not join Confederation until 1873
NEWFOUNDLAND
Little in common with other colonies
More interested in ties to Britain
Didnt join Confederation until 1949

John A. Macdonald
believed Canada had to
be partnership between
Canadiens and English
Canadians
John A. formed alliance
with George-Etienne
Cartier from Canada East
Early discussions in
Charlottetown and
Qubec
John A. drew up British
North America Act

Britain still controls defense and foreign

affairs
Governor General would would
represent monarch of Britain in Canada
Parliament is made up of elected House
of Commons and appointed Senate
Each province has seats in House of
commons based on rep by pop

Limited Democracy
Who can vote in 1867?
Citizens over 21 who own property
Married women cant vote
Who owns property?
Not many single women
Not visible minorities
Not First Nations, Mtis or Inuit
Only 11% of the population could
actually vote!