Conferences and Confederation

1. Conferences and Confederation

2. What do they have in common?

3. Answer: they were all politicians who were assassinated... • Watch the video found here: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJIFoW0viJ8 • Read the article found here: • http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/featured/the-assassination-of-thomas-darcy-mcgee • And then answer the questions that follow…

4. The Assassination of D’Arcy McGee D’Arcy McGee was assassinated after Confederation had been won in 1867. What effect do you think the news of his assassination had on people in the new country of Canada? • McGee was popular with both Irish and non-Irish Canadians. • Citizens at that time might react with anger and demand government reprisals against the Fenians. • The fact that the country was newly formed might make some insecure, especially since McGee was a strong supporter of Confederation.

5. The Assassination of D’Arcy McGee What does the murder of D’Arcy McGee suggest about the atmosphere in Canada around the time of Confederation? • Political assassination is a last-resort form of protest. • Just as there were differences that existed among the colonies, there was a division among the citizens of the colonies over uniting.

6. The Assassination of D’Arcy McGee • Thomas D’Arcy McGee is the only Canadian victim of a political assassination at the federal level to date • And the execution of Patrick James Whalen was the country’s last public hanging

7. The Charlottetown Conference • Date and Location: 1 September 1864 Charlottetown, PEI • Purpose: Maritime provinces were talking about a Maritime union • The Canadians had asked to attend as they wanted to put forth their plan of all British North American provinces uniting... Confederation

8. The Charlottetown Conference • The Canadian delegation, including John A. Macdonald, George-Etienne Cartier, George Brown, Alexander Galt and D’Arcy McGee arrived and were asked to speak first. • They spoke of the advantages of uniting:Free trade between the colonies... businesses would grow and jobs would be plentiful An inter-colonial railway could be built to connect all provinces A central government would be set up for matters affecting all provinces – but each province would still have its own government to look after its own affairs • They agreed to meet and discuss the idea of Confederation at the Québec Conference.

10. The Québec Conference • Date and Location: 28 October 1864 Québec City, Québec. • Purpose: to finalize a union of the provinces • Included seven delegates from NB, seven from PEI, five from NS, two from NFLD and twelve from Canada East and Canada West • They worked out a plan known as the Seventy-Two Resolutions.

11. The Seventy-Two Resolutions • There would be a strong central government to look after affairs affecting the whole country such as defence, trade, and foreign affairs. • Each province would have its own government to look after local matters. • The system of government would follow the British Constitution and the head of the government would be the King or Queen of England. • The federal government would be made up of an elected House of Commons and an appointed Legislative Council (Senate). • Members of the House of Commons would be elected according to the principle of representation by population. • NFLD and NWT and BC would be allowed into the union as terms could be worked out.

14. Province of Canada

15. Province of Canada

16. Canada West • They would become a powerful nation • It would provide a barrier-free market • Canada would become the third largest seagoing nation in the world after Britain and the USA • It would encourage people to immigrate to Canada • In case of war, they would stand together

17. Canada East • Cartier explained that French and English would be equal partners. • He promised that they would not lose their way of life. • He said that if they did not join that they could be swallowed by the USA. • Dorion wanted a referendum, which means that all the people of Canada East would be given a chance to vote on the question and not just members of the Assembly.

18. New Brunswick • Premier Tilly was in favour of Confederation and called an election on the question • The anti-confederates believed that NB would lose control over their own affairs • Opponents complained that Tilly sold New Brunswickers out for .80 cents each at the Québec Conference • Tilly and his party was defeated, but the province still joined the union... more on that later

19. Nova Scotia • Leading Anti-Confederate was Joseph Howe, the best known politician in Atlantic Canada. • He influenced many people with his “Botheration Letters.” Comparing Confederation to a piece of cloth, it is weak and poorly planned piece of material. Is it a good idea to put new wine (NS) in an old bottle (Province of Canada) or to attach new cloth to an old item of clothing? Is union strong when a wise man, doing a steady business, is tricked into joining a gambler? Was Samson stronger when combined with Delilah, who tied him with ropes and cut off his hair? • The premier of NS was Charles Tupper, who decided to wait as he did not want the same result as New Brunswick... more on this later

20. Prince Edward Island • Advantages were unclear as the promise of a railway linking the Atlantic Colonies to the rest of Canada did Prince Edward Island little good • PEI was a small colony and would only have a small amount of representatives in a Canadian government. • There was widespread opposition and the topic was dropped... for now.

21. Newfoundland • They felt few ties with Canada and Confederation had little appeal. • They had longstanding bonds with Britain. • CF Bennett, a wealthy merchant, spoke out against Confederation. He warned that the government would tax their boats, fish etc. and that goods in Canada would be so cheap that NFLD products would not sell. • On the night Confederation was defeated in NFLD, there was a parade in St. John’s.

22. Anti-Confederation song from NFLD Hurrah for our own native isle, NFLD! Not a stranger shall hold one inch of its strand! Her face turns to Britain, her back to the Gulf, Come near at your peril, Canadian Wolf! Ye Brave NewFoundlanders who plough the salt sea With hearts like the eagle so bold and so free, The time is at hand when you’ll all have to say If Confederation will carry the day. Cheap tea and molasses they say they will give, All taxes take off that the poor man may live; Cheap nails and cheap lumber our coffins to make, And homespun to men our old clothes when they break.

23. Anti-Confederation song from NFLD If they take off the taxes how then will they meet The heavy expense of the country’s upkeep? Just give them the chance to get us in the scrape And they’ll chain us like slaves with pen, ink, and red tape. Would you barter the rights that your fathers have won, Your freedom transmitted from father to son? For a few thousand dollars of Canadian gold, Don’t let it be said that your birthright was sold. Then hurrah for our own native isle, Newfoundland! Not a stranger shall hold one inch of its strand! Her face turns to Britain, her back to the Gulf, Come near at your peril, Canadian Wolf! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmEH1LUV3nE

24. Anti-Confederation song from NFLD 1. What objections does this song suggest Newfoundlanders had to Confederation? • The song suggests Newfoundlanders had the objections to Confederation because the rest of Canada would exploit the colony’s rich reserves of natural resources and giving nothing in return. The song also implies that joining Confederation would be disloyal to Britain. 2. Why is a folk song an effective way to express feelings about key issues? • The lyrics are usually written in catchy phrases and in a language used by common people.

25. Outcome in Atlantic Colonies • Britain supported the idea of Confederation as it would mean only one colonial government to deal with • They would also not have to send soldiers and the country expanding west would create more business opportunities • This led them to being actively involved in making sure New Brunswick and Nova Scotia joined the union...

26. Outcome in Atlantic Colonies • In New Brunswick, Britain instructed the lieutenant-governor to arrange for a pro-Confederation decision • Former Premier Samuel Leonard Tilly received money from railway promoters, shipping and timber interests and the Canadian government to help the cause • The US had ended free trade and Tilly played up the Fenian raids... this combination of factors was enough to convince NB to join

27. Outcome in Atlantic Colonies • In Nova Scotia, a new, pro-Confederation, lieutenant-governor, Sir Fenwick Williams, was appointed • Williams was a hero in the British navy and was beloved by many • He threw his support behind Tupper which helped to turn the tide and convince Nova Scotians to join Confederation

28. The London Conference • Date and Location: 4 December 1866 London, England • Purpose: united Canada East and West, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia • Revised the 72 Resolutions so they would be passed as an act and made law in British Parliament. • The British North America Act, which is now known as the Constitution Act of 1867, was passed and went into effect on 1 July 1867 • It created the Dominion of Canada... a land stretching from sea to sea.