British ColumbiaUniting the colonies and Confederation

Towards confederationObjectives:

What were the causes and consequences of negotiating the boundary between southern British Columbia and the United States?

What events led to the formation of the crown colony of Vancouver Island?

What role did the Cariboo Gold Rush play in the creation of the British Columbia colony?

Why did BC agree to enter Confederation? What events led to this agreement?

Under what conditions did BC agree to become part of Canada?

B.C. before the 1800s No development or infrastructure

Up to 100,000 First Nation people

Competitive Maritime fur trade

British, US and Russian interest

Nobody “owned” the Oregon Territory

The Oregon Territory Dispute Boundary treaty signed after War of 1812

49th parallel became the BNA/US border

But area west of Rockies was not included

Territory left open to settlers

American fur traders and settlers moved to Columbia River Valley – Fort Astoria

HBC also dominated the area

Pressure from settlers towards politicians to annex the Pacific Northwest

US Interest:

• Rapid population increase• Manifest Destiny possible• Settlement policy in Oregon

Territory• Settlement in Columbia River

Valley

BNA/HBC Interest:

• Plan to expand fur trade along Pacific Coast

• Fort Vancouver built in CRV• HBC manipulated US

settlement• Fort Langley built on Fraser

River• Trading posts south of Alaska

Russian / American treaty

1824 US/Russian treaty divided their trade of the Pacific Coast at 54 ° 40’ north

US & British were to share trade south of this latitude

1844 James Polk’s presidential campaign promised to gain this shared land for the US

“54-40 or fight” an empty promise 1846 Oregon Boundary Treaty divided land

at 49th parallel Columbia River (including where Fort

Vancouver was) controlled by US, Vancouver Island con

Group Discussion QuestionsWhat forces prompted the British decided to focus on

Vancouver Island?• Boundary change under Oregon treaty • Annexation of California in 1848• US moving closer to their “manifest destiny.”• Fear of US settlers moving north What do you think would help Britain maintain control

of the region? Occupation of Vancouver Island January 1849, Vancouver Island became a crown colony

with Fort Victoria the capital

A new start – Vancouver Island

HBC lost fur trade market in Columbia River Government created crown colony of Vancouver Island James Douglas sent to select a site for a fort “father of British Columbia” Used HBC skipper McNeill’s observations of 1837:“found an excellent harbour, of easy access with good anchorage, surrounded

by a plain of several miles in extent, of an excellent soil.” 1843 started the construction of Fort Victoria Area rich in forests, fisheries & coal Grants given to encourage people to start farming

Strengthening the claim British government gave HBC a royal charter to give

a monopoly over trade and commerce HBC instructed to encourage settlement and sell

land to settlers HBC keep 10%, 90% used to develop infrastructure 1849 Fort Victoria became the centre of HBC’s west

coast operations James Douglas transferred from Fort Vancouver to

control operations Governor Richard Blanshard had no control over

colony and resigned after 2 years James Douglas became the new governor

Encouraging settlement What kind of settlers do you think Douglas was looking for? What are the characteristics of a “good settler”?

British government introduced a system that mirrored the class structure in England Settlers could buy a minimum of 20 acres If they bought 100 acres +, they had to bring a minimum of five workers to settle too Town plans being made for Victoria Plans for a naval base nearby Fine homes built for colony’s leaders Schools, churches, formal dances introduced Many BC Englishmen married daughters of fur traders/Metis or Indian wives

Economic development Discovery of lumber and coal Gold discovered in California in 1849 HBC sold supplies to gold prospectors Market for lumber in mining communities in California Regular steamship service between California and Vancouver Island

established Colony still grew slowly, despite the boom 1852 450 non-native settlers HBC established coal mines near Nanaimo to provide steam for ships British miners came to the island to mine, increasing the population to

over 1000

The Gold Rush

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q6nSMF_eu0

1857 gold found along North Thompson River

Hundreds of US miners came north to prospect for gold

News spread to San Francisco and even more people came

Gold also found on the Fraser River

The Gold Rush & Victoria In April 1858 450 miners arrived aboard

the Commodore Douglas feared a large anti-British

population would have a negative impact on the colony

Fears of annexation 50 of the miners settled, including 35

blacks They became valuable contributors to

Victoria’s society The other 400 headed to the gold fields on

the mainland By 1858, 10,000 men were searching for

gold on the Fraser River, 25,000 by 1859.

Benefits & Problems in VictoriaWhat were the benefits of the Gold Rush for Victoria? Island farmers provided food to miners Hotel owners benefited from increased visitors What were the problems of the Gold Rush for Victoria? Tent and shanty settlements developed More Americans that British Land values increased End to HBC’s monopoly as new businesses emerged May 30 1859 new Liberal British government ended HBC’s

charter to encourage competition

The founding of a mainland colony

Why reasons prompted the development of the mainland colony created in 1858?

More US settlers due to Gold Rush Fears of US annexation To maintain law and order in the gold fields

Making it official: Britain’s new colonial secretary, Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton offered

James Douglas governorship of both Vancouver Island and the new British Columbia colony

Douglas had to resign from HBC

The founding of a mainland colony

BC officially celebrated on November 19, 1858

Fort Langley became the first capital Matthew Begbie, the colony’s judge,

named James Douglas as governor HBC’s exclusive right to trade was

removed Douglas, Begbie & Colonel Richard Moody

were responsible to bring good government & law and order to the mainland

25,000 miners and settlers

The early BC colonyBC shaped by two forces: the miners three men: Douglas, Begbie & Moody

Miners:• Ethnic diversity to

BC • Focus on individualism

• Desire for riches

Diverse BCEnglish

AmericanItalian Poles

Danes GermansSwedes

SpaniardsMexicans Chinese

Natives

Law & Order• Begbie traveled to

hold court• Law extended to

non-whites • Trials for natives

Infrastructure• Moody & Company of

Royal Engineers controlled

development• Roads, public works,

seaport• Cariboo Wagon Road

Cariboo Wagon Road

1860 more gold discovered in the Cariboo region Resource was richer than along Fraser River Gold discovered in Richfield - 800 people on by the creek in

William’s Lake by spring Other towns built along Williams Creek A road was needed as deposits located in isolated areas Supplies were needed at the mining town 1862, the Cariboo Wagon Road was ordered by Douglas Civilian contractors and the Royal Engineers worked together Completed in less than 4 years, the road was 600 km long, 6m

wide and ran from Yale to Boston Bar

Where is the Best Location for BC’s Capital City & Seaport?

Consider building:

• An already established site?

• A new city?

What would city planners need to think about?

• Space• Land use/type • Political control• Defense • Access to the sea • Access to rivers & roads

Choosing a Capital City & Seaport

Douglas’ opinion: Capital should remain at Derby

(Fort Langley), south of the Fraser River

Seaport should be located on north bank of Fraser River, across from Annacis Island, 30km from the Fraser’s mouth

Moody’s Opinion: Location should be on north

side of river for protection Recommended a site by

Douglas for the seaport and the capital

New Westminster July 1859, New Westminster became the capital and the

seaport for BC

Was New West the right choice?Problems with New Westminster Politically unpopular – speculators in Victoria had bought land around

Fort Langley Moody had very expensive plans for a ‘magnificent’ city’s development Huge rivalry between New Westminster and Victoria

Successes with New Westminster Location satisfied requirement for defense Homes, churches, offices and commercial buildings created in 1860 Town council took control in 1860 over local improvements Cariboo Gold Rush brought prosperity to New Westminster Easier supply location than Victoria

The Struggle for Responsible Government On Vancouver Island 1856 Douglas reluctantly created an elected assembly for the

Vancouver Island colony No responsible government – Vancouver Island Assembly had little

power Only property-holders had the right to vote (<40 out 450 residents) Douglas and Legislative Council had most power

Governor

LegislativeCouncil

LegislativeCouncil

Voters

The Struggle for Responsible Government On the Mainland Colony British Columbia Act of 1858 made no provision for an elected

assembly All power held by Douglas and the Legislative Council (HBC

officers) Douglas supported by miners, opposed by settlers and business

people

Governor

LegislativeCouncil

Voters

The Move for ReformOn Vancouver Island Reform led by publisher of The British

Colonist newspaper William Smith, later known as Amor de

Cosmos Opposed Douglas for he did not listen to the

elected assembly’s decisions Every piece of legislation between 1856-1863

was made by Douglas & his council Opposed “family compact”/HBC men making

all of the decisions Pushed for responsible government and

Confederation as achieved by Howe in Nova Scotia

The Move for ReformOn the Mainland Colony A reform group started to demand changes to the

way colony was ruled Led by John Robson, publisher of The British

Columbian newspaper Supported by New Westminster’s merchants who

had settled from the Canadas and the Maritimes They wanted BC to have an elected assembly with

a responsible government Opposed Douglas’ ability to make any law he

wished Douglas raised taxes three times in three years Miners didn’t support reformers as those taxes built

better roads and services

The Future of Douglas Douglas ignored the reformers and wanted to

build a prosperous colony within the British Empire His plans for expansion and public works cost

more than the taxes he raised After borrowing money, the colony suffered from

mounting debts His ability to govern was being questioned Reformers sent 4 petitions to London complaining

about Douglas’ rule Douglas created a partially elected Legislative

Council in response – but still not responsible Pressure from reformers in BC and VI pushed the

British Colonial Office to force Douglas’ retirement. Knighted by Queen Victoria Each colony was to have its own governor

Changes for the Colonies Governor in British Columbia – Frederick Seymour Needed to raise money to repay loans from building roads

to gold fields Miners opposed paying taxes

Governor on Vancouver Island - Arthur Edward Kennedy

Economic and political problems Conflict with elected members of the assembly, including

Amor de Cosmos The fought against proposals for increasing taxes Kennedy gained support from areas outside of Victoria Established Royal Navy base at Esquimalt , assuring a

market to coal mines in Nanaimo Kennedy appealed to colonial office for help but was

ignored

Uniting the Two Colonies Why would the Colonial Secretary want to unite the two colonies? Less expensive more efficient

VI suggested a federal union with VI as a separate province but idea was dropped as recession worsened

January 1856 Amor de Cosmos called for a complete union

To test public approval, he resigned, forcing elections and won

November 19 1866, the union was official and colonies became known as British Columbia, with Seymour as governor

Victoria became capital after a debate led by islander assembly member, John Helmcken

The Question of ConfederationThe Key Players in the decision

1) Anti-Confederation led by J.S. Helmcken – he did not think Confederation practical

2) Pro-Confederation position most vocal leader was Amor de Cosmos who thought Confederation would lead to “Responsible Government”

3) Annexationists were mostly merchants in Victoria who thought joining the US would strengthen the economy

Colonial Office explained that BC would have to wait until Rupert’s Land (still owned by HBC at this time) became part of Canada

What were the options for British Columbia?

1. Confederation – join Canada 2. Annexation – join the United States 3. Status Quo – remain the same (as a British colony)

For or Against Confederation?

Pros Cons

For Confederation

For Annexation

Status Quo

Confederation Achieved Gov. Seymour died in 1869 Gov. Anthony Musgrave, who advocated Confederation, was a

friend of Canadian PM Sir John A MacDonald, replaced Seymour. BC’s Assembly was divided by members from Vancouver Island

who opposed confederation and members from the Mainland who supported it. Colonial officials in BC (mostly British) also opposed it.

Musgrave needed to reconcile these groups He guaranteed Colonial officials pensions and jobs from the

Canadian government Colonial officials were also alarmed by Annexationists by forcing

them to chose between Canada or the US Musgrave chose Helmcken, Carrol and Joseph Trutch to be

delegates to Ottawa for the Confederation negotiations The Canadians gave in to all their demands: the railway was to

built in two years, BC’s debt paid, etc. AND gave responsible government