University of Toronto

REASONS FOR
CONFEDERATION

Camila Calderon-Cruz
Contemporary Canada WDW102Y1-S
Professor Peter Sanders
3 February 2023

 
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Imagine you are one of the 3 million inhabitants of the British North American colonies

156 years ago. The colonies were politically, economically, geographically, and culturally

detached from each other; only an inextricable British bond served as the glue that held them

together. Suddenly, people around your start talking about a Confederation: a union between

your colony and many others you have no idea of, with different languages, heritage, religion,

customs and way of living. Why would scattered colonies with little in common would start

working together? - You would ask yourself. There must be substantial reasons to make such a

decision, right? What kind of challenges must they be facing? You are clueless - I know. Luckily

for you, - just at that moment -I arrive from the future to your village to elucidate the matter and

get you out of your perplexity. There were some internal and external factors that played a

significant role in drawing the colonies together. Among the internal factors are the need for rail

links, desire to acquire the northwest, and political deadlock. External factors presented were the

fear of American annexation, trade troubles, and changing British attitudes. Some of these

elements gave the BNA colonies a nudge towards Confederation. Some others supposed the final

push.

Internal causes

The need for rail links. Existing railways were designed to transport goods from the colonies to

the United States or Britain, they were not made for internal trade between colonies. The

construction of an Intercolonial Railway was seen as a sign of economic and commercial growth,

and the starting point for and industrialized Canada. However, very soon after such railway

started its construction in 1858, the colonies found themselves in economic hardship when
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realized the expensive cost to expand the rail farther (Bain and DesRivieres 38). Investors would

take loans from British Banks, yet British banks won’t facilitate such loans unless all the

colonies unite. By joining together and combining forces and resources, the colonies would be

able to afford the large sum of money for the project.

The desire to acquire the northwest. As soon as the 1850’s, Farmers from Canada West were

already looking for more arable land and started moving to the United States where more fertile

land was available. Moreover, the continuing growth of the Canadas population and vision of a

transcontinental country called for new territories to be explored and occupied both by French

and English. Also, the vast empty territory from the west was in danger of being taken by the

United States, which could result in an American invasion. For this reason, an alliance between

colonies would secure them against the American threat and provide them with plenty of land to

be worked and inhabited as well.

Political deadlock. In the 1841 Act of Union between Canada East and Canada West, each of the

Canadas were given an equal number of seats in the legislature - even though Canada East

outnumbered Canada West’s population - in order to appease English fear of assimilation by the

French. On the flip side, this decision resulted into a political stalemate because when any major

issue arose, politicians from both sides would team up and block any bill discussed.

Subsequently, due to a rapid change in the demographics – Canada West outnumbered Canada

East’s population – politicians from Canada West demanded a representation by population

assembly system (Wardhaugh et al. 7). Naturally, Canada East strongly object this in fear of

French assimilation. Therefore, the main leaders from each party realized that the Act of union
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was not working for them but only bringing the English-French differences out. For this reason,

a sensible solution could be the unification of the Canadas and other colonies that would balance

the polarity and weigh in for the sake of prosperity.

External causes

The fear of American annexation. During and after the American Civil war from 1861 to 1865, a

series of incidents took place and applied strong pressure - indirectly and directly – on the

making of Confederation. The United States had several reasons for transforming their anti-

British sentiment into action, and the BNA colonies had much reason to believe the possible

threat they posed. Among the reasons for Confederation, the panic of an American invasion was

the biggest contributing factor for the union.

American civil war

After the war, the United States was left with an incredible amount of munitions, army

and technology that could be used against the BNA colonies to get back at Britain for

aiding the Southerners in the war – they were officially neutral but needed the Southern

cotton for textile industry. British aided the south by providing them with shipyards to

build new warships (Alabama Affair), and even covering for 2 Confederate agents in

their way to Britain asking for help to the cause (Trent Affair). Furthermore, the BNA

colonies sheltered and released a group of Confederates free of charge after performing

major attacks against the North (St. Albans raid). These incidents only incensed the

American revengeful sentiment against the British and their colonies.

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Fenian raids

Around the 1850’s a massive Irish immigration started towards the United States,

escaping the misery and mistreatment from the British. This Irish brotherhood – the

Fenians – aimed for the invasion of the BNA colonies and use them as ransom in

exchange for Ireland’s freedom. Although the Fenians only performed minor attacks

against the colonies with little impact, they caught the BNA population’s attention and

spread paranoia amongst them (Wardhaugh et al. 10). People from the colonies were

terrified at the possibility of an American invasion, and the Fenian raids were only a taste

of what could possibly come in a future: “If the opportunity [Confederation] which now

presented itself were allowed to pass by unimproved, whether we would or would not, we

would be forced into the American Union by violence, and if not by violence, would be

placed upon an inclined plain which would carry us there insensibly.” (Sir Etienne-

Paschal Taché)

Manifest Destiny

By the end of the Civil War, – which the Union won – the United States had already won

Mexican, Spanish and French territory in North America either by war, cession or

purchase. What’s more, in 1867 the U.S. purchased Alaska from Russia. This prompting

acquisition of land led the Americans to believe in Manifest Destiny. The idea was that

the Unites States were destined - appointed by God - to control all of North America

(Bain and DesRivieres 42). This American expansionist threat served – for the most part

– as the tipping point for the BNA colonies to consider joining together to protect their

homeland.
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Trade troubles with Britain and the United States. The BNA colonies depended economically to

a large extent on external trading. Goods were mostly exported to Britain and the U.S. markets.

With the culmination of the Reciprocity Treaty with the U.S. and free trade with Britain, BNA

colonies were compelled to develop different ways of trading (internal), which worked in favor

of Confederation.

End of Reciprocity Treaty

Free trade was allowed between the U.S. and the BNA colonies - the latter being greatly

benefited - for certain products since 1854. Nonetheless, in 1866 The U.S. – just as the war

ended - decided to terminate the treaty in pursuit of destabilizing BNA’s economy and also as

retaliation against Britain for supporting the South in the war. The main goal was to force the

colonies into a union with the U.S.. Economic survival of the BNA was hanging by a thread

(Belshaw 46).

End of free trade with Britain

Trade with the BNA colonies had been always privileged by the British in the form of free of

tariffs imports (colonial preference). Despite that, around the 1860’s, a new economy philosophy

was gaining force among the British. British people didn’t want to pay taxes on colonial goods

just to protect the BNA. The so called “Little Englander” movement advocated for a freer trade

in favor of Britain’s economic development.

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Changing British attitudes and support for Confederation. In the 1860’s Britain was at the peak

of its power, becoming progressively reluctant to afford BNA’s defence. The BNA colonies were

seen as a burden to the British politicians and no longer considered assets. Britain wanted the

colonies to be responsible for their government and their defence – in other words – to become

more independent. Thus, the British actively encouraged, supported, and induced the colonies

towards Confederation with several enticements such as low-interest loans for the construction of

railways, etc (Connor et al. 178).

Conclusion

The history-changing episode of Confederation was a sort of concatenated little and big events;

some of them easily linked to the consequence, others not so much. However, we have seen

underlying causes are as equally important as immediate ones. No singular event/factor can be

stipulated as the originator of Confederation, though, the fear of American annexation –

compounded by many other specific events – was probably the main factor that led these loose

group of colonies to the path of nation-building. Many other factors abounded, but the thread

against BNA colonies’ identities, cultures, and values ironically represented the final push to a

union with alternative different societies too.

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Works Cited

Wardhaugh, Robert Alexander, et al. Destinies: Canadian History since Confederation. Nelson

Education, 2017. 

Bain, Colin M., and Dennis DesRivieres. Pearson Canadian History 8. Pearson Education

Canada, 2008. 

Connor, Linda, et al. Shaping Canada: Our History: From Our Beginnings to the Present.

McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 2012. 

Belshaw, John Douglas. Canadian History: Post-Confederation. BCcampus, BC Open Textbook

Project, 2017. 

“Confederation.” The Canadian Encyclopedia,

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/confederation