BC Socials 10 Ch. 3

What two conferences led to Confederation and where and when were they held?

The Charlottetown Conferences, P.E.I., Sept. 1864 The Quebec Conferences, Quebec City, Oct. 1864

What was the official religion at this time?

Christianity, with different faiths: * Irish often Catholic * Scottish often Presbyterian * Upper and middle class usually Anglican

Which colonies were the first to form the Dominion of Canada?

New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and the Province of Canada (which would become Ontario and Quebec)

Did the Government respect Aboriginal land treaties?

No, the Government took advantage of them and often forced them to rent out or sell their farmland to immigrants.

Name the four main political parties before Confederation?

Parti rouge, Parti bleu, Clear Grits and the Tories

What violent acts happened as a result of Elgin signing the Rebellion Losses Bill?

some english-speaking citizens in Montreal attacked Elgin's carriage with stones and rotten eggs and they set fire to the Parliament buildings, which burned to the ground

What main thing was the Maritime provinces requesting at the Charlottetown Conference?

to get the absentee landowners to sell their land back to them

What does it mean to assimilate?

to join another culture and to give up one's own language and traditions

What does it mean to annex a territory?

to take over a territory and add it to the territory of another country

Who belonged to the middle class?

very wealthy people who were not aristocrats (born into wealth)

What did Victorian Canadians do for entertainment?

* City: concerts, fairs, circuses, and shows * Country: barn raisings, quilting bees, and dances. * books, magazines and playing cards * sports: bear baiting, boxing, swimming * medicine shows * leisure travel

Why was there a concern that America could annex the western territories of Canada?

* Manifest Destiny and America had already invaded Canada twice before * Western colonies were small and scattered and had no defences against an aggressive America * Britain had supported the South during the American Civil War and the North might retaliate (get back at them) by using their large armies to invade Canada

What was double majority?

* a bill became law only if a majority in both Canada East and Canada West voted for it in the Legislative Assembly * it made it hard to pass a bill b/c each territory wanted different things

What were some of the problems that still existed after Confederation?

* aboriginal peoples opposed plans that took away their rights and land * a transcontinental railway would be very expensive * arguments between the French and English did not go away

How did repealing the Corn Laws lead to Confederation?

* advantages from economic relationship with Britian now gone * Britain could now buy grain from other countries at a lower price than Canadian grain * Canadian grain producers now had no one to sell their grain to, which drove the colonies into an economic depression

Who were the Fenians and what were the Fenian Raids? How did this affect the move towards Confederation?

* an Irish organization that wanted to get back at the British Empire for the poor treatmet of Ireland by the English * they attacked both Canada West and Canada East, but were pushed back into America * it convinced many colonists that the American threat was real

What was reciprocity?

* an agreement that provided free trade between the United States and the British colonies * when the United States ended reciprocity it helped move the Maritime provinces towards Confederation

Who was Lord Elgin and what was his job?

* appointed Governor General of Canada in 1846 * Lord Durham's son-in-law * job was to make responsible government a reality

What were the political arguments FOR Confederation?

* as one large country Canada would have more protection from an American invasion * Canada could annex the Western territories before America did * One central government would be a better system to get bills passed * political independence from Britain

Why did British Columbia want to join Confederation?

* believed a railway link to Central Canada would create growth and development in the West

What were the arguments AGAINST the Maritime provinces (New Brunswick and Nova Scotia) joining Confederation?

* both colonies had good trade with the United States (until reciprocity ended) * they already had responsible government * feared they would lose power and be weak * they had a shared identity and history * feared they would not be an equal partner but lose power and identity in the Dominion of Canada

What did French Scientist Louis Pasteur discover?

* discovered that bacteria caused many illnesses * used carbolic acid as an antiseptic and vaccinated people and animals

Why did Elgin sign the Rebellion Losses Bill if he had doubts about it?

* he felt he had no right to go against a bill that had been passed by the elected Assembly (the people) * he was determined to follow the principle of responsible government

What's the first thing Canada did to extend into the West?

* it bought Rupert's Land from the Hudson's Bay Company

What is the British North American (BNA) Act?

* it is the act that was passed on July 1, 1867 by the Parliament of Britain, which created the Dominion of Canada (country of Canada)

What would Confederation provide Canada economically?

* larger markets, more industry and better transportation systems for selling product * could develop its own economic policies that would benefit Canada rather than Britain

What were the main arguments AGAINST Confederation?

* loss of political and economic control in the colonies (provinces) because a central government would be making the decisions * loss of culture and cultural identity * loss of support from Britain (financial and defense) * Confederation expensive and would have to be paid for by taxes

How did North America benefit from the growth of science and technology during the Victorian era?

* millions of lives saved from the discovery of bacteria and infection * discoveries made to prevent and treat serious diseases * sterilizing techniques developed for operating rooms and medical instruments

Why is the steam locomotive one of the most important new technologies of the Victorian age?

* moved goods and people quickly and cheaply * gave access to new markets and ports by linking major cities and linking Canada to the USA. * boosted economy

What sorts of things were in a newspaper in that era?

* news that was often biased and untruthful * local news that was often gossipy * self-help articles, recipes and helpful hints aimed at women * cures and medicines, and strange sciences * political cartoons

Why was the newspaper so important in Victorian Canada?

* politicians used them to promote their ideas * businesses used them to sell products * Canadians used them to get news and information

What did a poor immigrant's life look like?

* poor and uneducated * life was difficult and not secure (no gov't assistance) * lived in small houses or apartments * not paid well and worked long hours

What are some impacts immigration had on the Aboriginal peoples.

* pushed aside to make room for colonial settlement * forced to live on reserves * suffered from disease, poverty and other social issues * culture hard to maintain

Why were some people so against the Rebellion Losses Bill?

* saw rebels as traitors to Britain and thought it was a crime to "reward" them by giving them tax money * feared losing political power to the French

What were some of the attitudes and values of Victorians?

* stressed good morals, hard work and personal success * worried a lot about sin * materialistic and cared about social class and status

What were the arguments FOR the Maritime provinces to join Confederation?

* the railway would provide larger markets for their products * Loyalty to England, by making the colonies stronger and better able to protect against American invasion (Fenian Raids)

What were the concerns of those against responsible government in colonial Canada?

* thought it would weaken the British Empire * though it would strengthen Britain's political enemies (France and United States) * thought it would be bad for the economy

What was the purpose of the Gradual Civilization Act (1857)?

* to assimilate Aboriginal peoples by making them citizens of Britain (enfranchisement) * to take away the treaty rights of First Nations, which would allow the government to ignore agreements made in the past

What were the economic arguments FOR Confederation?

* trade barriers and tariffs between the colonies would end so Canada and colonies would prosper * a new national railroad would connect the colonies and improve trade

Why did Britain want responsible government in colonial Canada?

* was becoming too expensive for Britain to govern, defend and economically support the colonies * would make Canada less dependent on Britain, but they would still be part of the British Empire * to prevent a revolution by providing democracy

What did a rich immigrant's life look like?

* wealthy and educated * life was comforable and secure * fancy houses with many servants * went on vacations

How long did Queen Victoria reign over the British Empire?

60 years (1837-1901)

Who was not invited to the Conferences?

Aboriginals and women

Who was the leader of the Parti Bleu and what did the party represent?

Canada East, George-Etienne Cartier * focused on economic development and protection of French-Canadian culture and rights * not as radical as Parti Rouge * wanted to work with Canada West to reach its goals * had support of Catholic church

Who was the leader of the Parti Rouge and what did the party represent?

Canada East, Louis-Joseph Papineau * represented French-speaking farmers and business people * wanted American-style government * did not like the Act of Union

Who was the leader of the Tories and what did the party represent?

Canada West, John A. MacDonald * not as radical as Clear Grits * wanted a strong central government * made a deal with Parti Bleu to combine the parties to form the Liberal Conservatives * combined parties eliminated problem of double majority

Who was the leader of the Clear Grits and what did the party represent?

Canda West, George Brown (publisher of The Globe newspaper) * Brown disliked Catholics and the French * a radical party * attacked government corruption * wanted more democracy * defended English-Canadian interests

Why did some aboriginal communities adjust to colonialism easier than others?

The government wanted Aboriginals to settle and farm, so those bands that were already farmers and living in large communities did not have to change their way of life as much as those that were hunters and fishermen.

What process is named after Louis Pastuer?

pasteurization - heating a food or liquid, such as milk, to kill bacteria

What was the Rebellion Losses Bill?

a bill promising to pay Canada East people (including rebels) back for property lost in the Rebellions, using tax money; however, rebels who had been convicted of treason not included

What is mercantilism?

a colonial economic system, in which the home country uses raw goods imported from the colonies to manufacture goods (ex Britain imported grain from colonial Canada to make bread)

What is a tariff?

a duty, or charge, that must be paid on an imported item

What is economic depression?

a period of low economic activity marked by high unemployment

Victorian

a person who lived during the reign of Queen Victoria and shares the values of the Victorian period

What was the Annexation Manifesto?

a plan by English merchants in Montreal to allow the United States to take over Canada

What is Confederation?

a union of colonies under one central government

What was the Manifest Destiny?

an American idea that the United States was meant to to control all of North America

What were some of the responsibilities of the Federal government?

defence, post office, railroad

What were some of the responsibilities of the Provincial government?

education, lands, healthcare, roads and highways

What were the three branches of Canada's Federal Government?

executive, legislative and judicial

What is enfranchisement?

granting someone the rights and protection of a citizen of a particular country

What idea did Macdonald have to give up for Confederation?

he had to give up the idea of a strong national government because it was decided that provincial government should keep many powers

What are the Corn Laws?

laws which protected agriculture in the British Empire by limiting the import of grain from other countries

Why did most people want to stay under British rule?

many thought the economic relationship between the colonies and Britian (mercantilism) gave the colonies a big advantage