The Confederation Of Canada

John A Macdonald

Was a father of confederation he initiated

construction of the intercolonial railway

he mandated canadian pacific to bulid

canada's first transcontenial railway

Key people

William Alexander Henry

Henry emphasized the necessity to unite for

defence and to complete the intercolonial railway

between halifax and quebec his campaign in support of confederation was pursued in the face of the mounting opposition to the qubec scheme nurtured by howe and william annand

Key Events

The Railway Boom

Heavy expansion of the rail system did not get under way until the Railway Guarantee Act of 1849 that guaranteed bond returns on all railways over 75 miles. This led to rapid expansion of railway in the Canadas, sometimes excessive growth as uneconomic lines were built since the government guaranteed profits.However, this proved disastrous for government finances, and the Canadas were all but bankrupted by the subsidies. The largest rail project of this period was also a disaster. The Grand Trunk Railway linking Montreal to Sarnia was finished in 1860, but was vastly mired in debt. In exchange for bailing out the company the government escaped its guarantee on the railway bonds.

In exchange for joining the Canadian Confederation, provinces were promised a railway link. Construction of the railway would provide work for hundreds of thousands people, in addition to establishing Canada’s reputation abroad and encouraging colonization

How would Confederation help

The dominion of Canada was born in 1867 as a Confederation of the four provinces that united to encourage economic devolpment The completion of the first transcontinental railways by canada Pacific in 1885 fulfilled a promise John A macdonald had made to british columbia as a condition for joining the confederatrion

John A Macdonald

Because it was his idea to come up wirth conferderation which solved the political deadlock

Key people

George Brown was a key person becasue he founded The Globe newspaper which told the people of the colony about what is happening at the political meetings

Some of the key events were that recognizing the larger population of canada west and giving them representation

Key Events

The coalition canada east and canada west had an equal amount of parliment when the province canada formed canada east and west had completely different intrests,religion and languages . Political deadlock created becasue they would purposely vote against eachother bills so no new laws could be passed . this deadlock lead to the grest coalition

How would Confederation help

Confederation wuld unite the colonies into one country. This seperates canada east and canada west into thier own provinces so they could decide on local matters independently. Even with the coalition they couldn't come upon agreements . With confederation canada east and canada west would both have their own provincal gouerment to kmake their own decisions .

John Bright

He spoke about how colonies should have to pay to the british parliment

Key people

Britian free trade happened then they passed taxes then had some money issues so they couldn't decide if they should get rid of some of the colony

some thought confederation was good and some thought it was bad

Key Events

Confederation would help changing british attitudes because the british had little money so they could not afford army and men .so if they joined the confederation they would be supplied troops to fight and deffend their country

How would Confederation help

George -Etienne cartier

lead the province of canada with george brown

Key people

George Brown

Lead the clear grits

The Trent affair was about a union ship that stopped trent ( a british merchent ship ). Two officals were taken from trent and arrested. Britain delcared war on the united states unless the men were realesed and lincoln apoligized

a small group of confederates and their maritime supporters captured the union streamer chesapeake off the coast of Cape cod new brunswick to refuel. The hijackers were joined by two men from halifax.

Key Events

Confederation would wipe away the threat of an american invasion as uniting the colonies would create a stronger military . the united states will try to take over and expand into canada. It would be much safer if all colonies were united in a confederation

How would Confederation help

Governer Elgin

Elgin was the man that signed the treaty

of cancellation of the reciprocity system on june 5th 1854

Key people

The governor signs the treaty of the cancellation of reciprocity treaty

Key Events

The treaty wasn't renewed in 1865 so it ended in 1866

The colonies believed that joining together would prosperity and free trade amongst themselves.

How would Confederation help