Grade 8 History - Factors leading to Confederation

What was the way of life that was developed by the Atlantic Colonies?

Fishing, shipbuilding and logging was the way of life for the Atlantic Colonies.

What were the Fenian Raids?

In April, 1866, a small group of Fenians landed on Campobello Island and held up a customs agent before returning to the United States. Again in June, they invaded Canada East and Canada West, but were forced to retreat without a battle. These skirmishes alarmed the people of Canada.

Describe the Political Deadlock that occurred in the late 1850's.

In the beginning, both Canada East and Canada West were given an equal number of seats in the government. These equal numbers would block the other ideas so that no decisions could be made. This is called Political Deadlock.

What was the Province of Canada created from?

It was created from Upper and Lower Canada and was called Canada East and Canada West. They shared the same government, but very little else.

Who first proposed the union of the colonies?

Lord Durham, in 1839, proposed the union in his report on the affairs of British North America (BNA).

Name the External Factors leading to Confederation.

Manifest Destiny, The Trent Affair, The Chesapeake Incident, The St. Alban's Raid, The Fenian Raids and the The Reciprocity Treaty.

How did people in the Central Colonies live?

Manufacturing, the fur trade and farming was the way of life for the Central Colonies.

Where did most people live in the 1860's?

More than 80 percent of the population lived beyond the few towns and cities. Most people lived on farms, lumber camps or sea coast villages.

Describe the Chesapeake Incident.

On December 7, 1863, a group of Confederates seized the ship Chesapeake. They planned to sell the ship's cargo and turn it into a ship to attack merchant ships of the Northern States. On December 16, two Northern warships captured the Chesapeake. Nothing came out of the incidents, but Canada realized that it could be used as a base in a war between the United States and Britain.

Describe the Trent Affair.

On November 8, 1861, a US ship stopped the British ship "Trent" and arrested two confederate diplomats and their secretaries. They were put in prison in Boston. The British Government demanded their release. Britain was on the verge of war with the Unites States and Canada realized that they would be caught in the middle of such a war.

What happened in St. Alban's, Vermont?

On October 19, 1864, a group of Confederate agents, dressed in civilians clothes, robbed three banks in St. Alban's, Vermont. They quickly fled to Canada. The Canadian government arrested them, and returned the stolen money. American groups were ordered to follow the thieves into Canada, but this would have violated neutrality and resulted in war. President Lincoln called back the troops. This really got Canada thinking about the dangers of war with the United States.

Who were the Fenians?

The Fenians were members of a secret society which was formed by Irish-Americans. They wanted to end British rule in Ireland and free Canada from Britain as well.

Why was the repeal of the Corn laws so difficult for Canada?

The Corn Laws were British laws which set customs duties on wheat and other cereals imported to Britain. The British colonies benefited from these laws. When they were repealed (cancelled), it created a hardship for Canadian farmers. They had to start looking at the United States as an alternative trading partner.

Who did all of the colonies depend on?

All of the colonies depended on the markets in Britain or the United States. They didn't really connect with each other.

What was Canada called in the 1860's?

Canada was called British North America.

How did the Railway make Confederation possible?

The Railway provided year round transportation that could link the colonies from sea to sea.

British North America consisted of what British colonies?

The colonies that made up British North America were: Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Rupert's Land, the Northwest Territories, British Columbia and Vancouver.

Why did Lord Durham's proposal get rejected?

The colonies were too separated to feel like one nation. The smaller colonies thought the union would be dominated by Canada, and the French Canadian minority felt that they would lose their cultural and religious rights.

What were the Internal Factors leading to Confederation?

The repeal of the Corn laws, Political Deadlock, The Railway.

How did the Western Colonies live?

These colonies were made up primarily of native groups and fur traders and depended on the fur trade.

Who were the people of Canada West?

They were mostly English-speaking Protestants.

Who were the people of Canada East?

They were mostly French-speaking Catholics.

What is Manifest Destiny?

This is the philosophy in the United States that it would eventually expand and take in all of what is now Canada.

What was the Annexation Bill?

This was a bill that the United States government passes in 1866 that cancelled the Reciprocity Treaty. This resulted in a sudden loss of trading advantages.

What was the Reciprocity Treaty?

This was a treaty created in 1854 that allowed for a large degree of free trade between the United States and British North American colonies. Goods could be imported free of customs duties.