Canadian History

• Loyalists were people loyal to Britain during the American Revolution for land, safety, & freedom.
• Brock and Tecumseh was a beneficial cooperation because Britain had more militia and the Shawnee's land in the Ohio valley would be protected.
• Following the rebellions of 1837, Lord Durham created the Durham report with the goals of: Assimilating the French, and preventing rebellion with a responsible government (Rep by Pop, unification).
• The Family Compact (Upper Canada) and Chateau Clique (Lower Canada) were oligarchies that controlled upper levels of government and vetoed the elective legislative assembly.
• Causes of confederation (DED): Defense, Economy, and Deadlock
• Defense: The USA was a threat to the colonies in BNA. Examples include Manifest Destiny and Fenian raids.
• Deadlock: In the Dominion of Canada, there was a deadlock between Canada and Canada East in the legislative assembly because of equal representation.
• Manifest Destiny was the belief that Americans had a god given right to take over the continent.
• Fenians were Irish-Americans who wanted to invade Canada as part of their fight against British rule in Ireland.
• The Reformers opposed the elite Family Compact in Upper Canada, and the Parti Patriote opposed the Chateau Clique in Lower Canada.
• Responsible government meant a government responsible for the people; requires the support of the legislative assembly instead of the crown.
• In 1840, Lord Durham wrote a report on the causes of rebellions in both Canadas. He recommended responsible government and union of the two provinces into one colony.
• Positives for Canada East: If they confederated, they would retain their language, religion, education, and civil law. The USA might annex them if they weren't confederated.

  Negatives: Too much power in the central government, and the English population would have a majority.
• Positives for Canada West: With rep-by-pop, they would have a large power in government.

  Negatives: Not much, but some wanted a referendum to be held to decide.
• Positives for New Brunswick: An intercolonial railway, with shared costs, would open new markets for New Brunswick.

  Negatives: The railway and its coverage wasn't guaranteed. They had more economic ties to USA. Protestants would have a majority, and they were Catholic.
• Positives for Nova Scotia: Confederating would improve defense in case the US attacked.

  Negatives: Nova Scotia had more economic ties to Britain, and might lose their identity.
• Negatives for PEI: People resented the British Colonial Office (because they did nothing about the absent landlord problem) so they were against confederating when the BCO recommended it. More taxes and tariffs to build the railroad, and encourage trade. Low population, so low power in government.
• Positives for Newfoundland: Confederation might offer economic opportunities to offset industry issues in fishing, timber, and agriculture.

  Negatives: Close economic ties to Britain were valued more than Canadian ties.
• Political Deadlock: Government decisions could not be made, one side blocks the other's agenda.

  Solution: Representation by population. The English will be the majority if the colonies confederate.
• Economic/Geographic Challenges: The Corn Laws were repealed. The colonies needed to establish their own trading and market for goods, but they were diverse and a long distance from each other.

  Solution: Confederation would strengthen the economy, making it easier to trade between colonies and letting them share the cost of building a railway.
• American Civil War: Between the Northern and Southern states. The south supported slavery due to the massive cotton industry. The north had a diverse economy and wanted to prohibit slavery. Due to Britain's textile industry, they were "neutral" but supported the south, increasing tensions between the US and Britain.

  Solution: Colonies would be stronger together in a dispute against the USA. Separation from Britain's politics, as British colonies they had the same tension.
• Trent Affair + St. Alban's Raid: Increased tensions between British colonies and the US. The Unionnstates threaten/attack BNA demonstrating a need for protection.

  Solution: Separation from British policies. United defense under confederation, and a railway would help move troops.
• Manifest Destiny: The belief that it was the USA's god given right to control North America.

  Fenian Raids: American-Iriah desire to attack British colonies

  Solution: Separate from British policy and increase defense strategy (military)
• End of Reciprocity: The USA ended free trade with the British colonies in hopes that the economy would be destroyed and vulnerable so they could take over.

  Solution: Colonies trade amongst each other = no need for the USA as a trading partner.