Factors Leading to Confederation (of Canada) [History notes]

This is a quick summary of the major events leading up to the Confederation of Canada from the British North American colonies.

Internal factors

I. Political issues in Canada East and Canada West made the idea of Confederation appealing

• Sectionalism
• Numerous political parties
  1. English Reformers – Hinks, Morin
  2. Clear Grits (Liberals) – George Brown
  3. Parti Rouge (French radicals) – A.A. Dorion
  4. Extreme Tories (Eng.) – Allan MacNab
  5. Moderate Conservatives (Eng.) – John A. MacDonald
  6. Bleus (French conservatives) – Georges E. Cartier
• Other political factors
  1. Galt’s Proposal – 1858
  2. Political Deadlock 1861-1864
  3. The Great Coalition of 1864

II. Economic issues

1. Repeal of British Corn Laws – 1846
2. Annexation Manifesto – 1849
3. Reciprocity Treaty – 1854
   • dropping of Reciprocity Treaty – 1865
4. Galt Tariffs – 1858
5. Financial difficulties of Grand Trunk Railroad
6. Transcontinental railway proposals
   • to acquire the Prairies
   • to acquire the West for defense

External factors

I. The US Threat to the British Colonies

1. US Manifest Destiny
2. Trent Affair – 1861
3. St. Alban’s Raid – 1864
4. “Alabama” Incident
5. Fenian Raids – 1866
6. Fear of Losing West to US
   • Red River Colony
   • Oregon Country and Oregon Treaty – 1846
   • British Columbia
     • Vancouver Island Colony (British Columbia)
     • B.C. Colony – 1858
     • Both united – 1866

Steps which brought about Confederation

1. Charlottetown Conference – September 1864
2. Quebec Conference – October 1864 – “72 Resolutions”
3. London Conference – 1866 – agreements reached
4. Confederation – July 1, 1867 – Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick form the “Dominion of Canada”