The following is an in-depth timeline of the events leading to Confederation.
1791:
Constitutional Act that creates Upper and Lower Canada, with each colony having an elected assembly.
1799:
St John's Island renamed Prince Edward Island.
1809:
Labrador placed under the jurisdiction of Newfoundland.
1812:
Establishment of the Red River Settlement.
1812-1814:
War of 1812. American forces invade British North America and burn down York (later named Toronto). The American attempts to conquer B.N.A. are unsuccessful.
1815:
Election of Louis-Joseph Papineau as speaker of Lower Canada's assembly. Papineau and other francophones sought to use the colony's francophone majority in the elected assembly to protect their culture and language.
1822:
Merger of the Hudson's Bay Company and the Northwest Company.
1829:
Death of Shawnadithit, the lone remaining Beothuk.
1832:
Newfoundland granted an elected assembly.
1833:
Major crop failure in Lower Canada.
1834:
92 Resolutions passed in the Lower Canadian Assembly.
1835:
Slavery abolished in the British Empire.
1837:
Rebellions in both Lower and Upper Canada.
1839:
Lord Durham's Report. His report recommends the implementation of responsible government, the union of Lower and Upper Canada, with the goal of "assimilating" the francophone population of Lower Canada.
1840:
Act of Union
1846-1849:
British government repeals the entire system of colonial preferences including the Corn Laws and the Navigation Acts. The colonial preferences had given British North America protection from foreign competition when trading within the British Empire. The colonies now had to face stiff foreign competition for those once-protected markets. The United States became a major trading competitor.
1848:
Responsible government implemented with the passage of the Rebellion Losses Bill.
1854:
Abolition of the seigneurial system and clergy reserves.
1855-1856:
Reciprocity Treaty with the United States. The desire for free trade with the United States was partially a response to the British ending the system of colonial trade preferences.
1861-1865:
American Civil War. The War strained relations between British North America and the U.S. government which claimed that the former was "siding" with the Southern Confederacy. Confederate agents used British North America as a base to launch several raids on northern U.S. communities. Some members of the U.S. government called for the annexation of British North America.
Road to Confederation
1864:
Pro-confederation coalition government formed in the United Province of Canada. Members of that coalition, including John A. Macdonald and George-Etienne Cartier, attend the Charlottown Conference in an attempt to persuade the Maritime colonies to enter a political union with Canada.Charlottetown Conference arranged by Maritime colonies to discuss a Maritime political union. Delegates from Canada convince delegates of the merits of a political union of all the colonies in British North America. All the delegates agree to meet later in the year at Quebec City to discuss such a political union.
Quebec City Conference is held to discuss the terms of a political union of all the colonies.
1865:
New Brunswick elects an anti-confederation majority to its legislature.
The united province of Canada's elected assembly approves the proposed Confederation.
1866:
Fenian Raids act as a force to convince many in British North America of the American "danger" of annexation, and the need for a political union.New Brunswick elects a pro-Confederation majority.
Nova Scotia's legislature approves further negotiations on Confederation.
U.S. cancels Reciprocity with British North America. The American cancellation was largely due to the events occurring during the U.S. Civil War. The cancellation of reciprocity forced British North Americans to seek another "path" to economic well-being. The idea of creating a nation, with a nation-wide domestic market, wins support.
London Conference established the "form" of the Confederation. The united province of Canada was to be divided into Ontario and Quebec.
Confederation
1867:
Confederation of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Ontario.
Questions
1) List all of the countries in the above timeline. What role do they play in the confederation of Canada? Describe any conflicts in chronological order.
Quebec City Conference is held to discuss the terms of a political union of all the colonies.
The united province of Canada's elected assembly approves the proposed Confederation.
Nova Scotia's legislature approves further negotiations on Confederation.
U.S. cancels Reciprocity with British North America. The American cancellation was largely due to the events occurring during the U.S. Civil War. The cancellation of reciprocity forced British North Americans to seek another "path" to economic well-being. The idea of creating a nation, with a nation-wide domestic market, wins support.
London Conference established the "form" of the Confederation. The united province of Canada was to be divided into Ontario and Quebec.
Questions
1) List all of the countries in the above timeline. What role do they play in the confederation of Canada? Describe any conflicts in chronological order.
Retrieved from the Saskatchewan Department of Education website: http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/actss30/activ2.html#2-5