Internal Political Problems

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Internal political problems

• What political problems arose in United Canada in the late 1850s

• What possible solution was considered?

The five colonies

• Canada (East and West)

• Nova Scotia

• New Brunswick

• Prince Edward Island

• Newfoundland

Governments

• Each had a similar responsible government.

• Governor

• Legislative Council

• Legislative assembly

•

CanadaPolitical deadlock

• From 1854 to 1864 Canada had ten governments.

Parties• Canada East

Parti RougeAntoine-Aime Dorion

• Wanted Quebec to be a French provinceAbolish tithes Take over the schools

Parties

• Canada West Clear GritsGeorge Brown

• Wanted the land held by the Hudson's Bay CompanyNon denominational schoolsReduce French in Government

The BluesTories Liberals

• John A McDonald Canada westGeorge Etienne Cartier Canada east

• Moderates

Population and representation

• Up until 1850 Canada east had a greater population than Canada East. Yet they both elected 42 members to the assembly.

• Once Canada west had a greater population they demanded “Rep by Pop”

• There was a desire to separate the two Canada's

• The separated Maritimes were considering a union

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Economic problems

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Economic problems• Markets for Canadian products were poor

• No preferential treatment from Britain

• No reciprocity treaty from the USA

Economic Problems

• Iron and steel were replacing Canadian lumber

• Long lines, but great stretches without customers

Economic Problems

• Land scarcity and poor yields

• Many farmers left for the USA

Economic Solutions

• Form an economic union of the colonies

• Use a railway to join the colonies

• This would create a large protected home market and transportation for the goods within the market

Questions on Page 94

Fears of American Expansion

Fears of American Expansion

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Fears of American Expansion• 1861-1865 American Civil War

• At the end of the war American had 400,000 well trained troops

• Canada had less than 20,000 soldiers

Manifest destiny

• Many Americans believed the USA should control all of North America.

• Real concern the Americans would move into the western lands of Canada

Fenians Raids 1866

• Irish Catholics in the USA

• Wanted independence of Ireland

• The plan was to capture portions of Canada and then trade the lands back to Britain for the lands in Ireland

• 1000 Fenians attacked

Britain

• It was clear that Britain would not spend money protecting Canada.

US President Andrew Johnson

• If the Fenians are successful I will support them.

The Charlottetown Conference

The Charlottetown Conference

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Political Problem

• Canada was hard to govern because of political deadlock.

The Great Coalition

• In 1864 George Brown proposed a coalition with John A McDonald and George Etienne Cartier.

Mother of Confederation

• Mrs. Brown

The Charlottetown Conference

• 1864 representatives of the New Brunswick, PEI and Nova Scotia were meeting to discuss their union

The Charlottetown Conference

• United Canada asked to join the meeting.

• The discussed the possibility of a larger union and to meet again in Quebec city

The Quebec Conference1864

The Quebec Conference1864

• Discussed how a federal union would operate (72 resolutions)

• Assembly elected based on “rep by pop”

The Quebec Conference1864

• A railway would link the colonies

• Delegates returned to get approval

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Local Reactions

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Local Reactions

• Newfoundland and PEI withdrewthey would not be served by a railway and would be taxed to pay for it.

Local Reactions

• New Brunswick Charles TupperFaced a lot of opposition but passed.

Local Reactions

• Canada East (Quebec)Dorion rejected the idea because it gave too much power to the English.

• Cartier argued that the French would be a majority in the provincial assembly

• English were concerned about losing language rights

Local Reactions

• Canada WestFavored confederationRep by pop gave them a majority

• Markets would increase

• Other provinces would help pay for the railway

The London Conference

The London Conference• England 1867

• Created the dominion of Canada

• Capital Ottawa

• Denominational education guaranteed

• Division of powers agreed upon

Brown and McDonald

• Pea shooter

The British North America ActBNA act

• Canada became a country in 1867

• Ontario

• Quebec

• New Brunswick

• Nova Scotia

Question

• Items in parliament are discussed in descending order of importance.

• Which item preceded the creation of Canada in the British parliament?

Answer

• The new price of a dogs license

Questions on page 97

The division of powers

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Types of States

• Unitary stateOne government that makes laws for the entire country.

• Central decision making

• Britain, France, Japan

Types of States

• Federal StateCentral government for matters that effect the whole country

• Provincial governmentLocal matters

Canada

• Canada is a federal State

• Federal Government Ottawa

• Ten Provincial governmentsThree territorial governments

Section 91 of the BNA ActDivision of federal powers

• Military,

• Criminal law,

• Penitentiaries,

• Census,

• Money

• Banking,

• Postal service

91

• Railways

• Shipping

• Fishing

• Weights and measurements

• Native people

Section 92Provincial powers

• Local and regional concern

• Education

• Hospitals

• Roads

• Civil law

• Natural resources

Shared powers

• Immigration

• Agriculture

Other powers

• Any new power is the jurisdiction of the federal government

• Both government have the rights to raise taxes to pay for the services they provide.

Canada

• Gained autonomy in domestic affairs

• Britain still controlled affairs relating to other countries.

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The Parliamentary system

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Head of state

• King or Queen of England

• Elizabeth II

Governor general

• The monarch is represented by the Governor general.

• Honourable David Johnson

Parliament

Parliament

• Senate Upper house

• Appointed for life by the Prime Ministersober second thought for laws

Parliament• House of commons lower house

• Elected Members of parliament maximum of five years

Commons • The party with the most Members of

Parliament (MPs) forms the government

• The leader of the party becomes the Prime minister

Cabinet• The prime minister select his cabinet from

elected members of parliament

• Minister of…..

Process

• Cabinet proposes a bill

• Bill is debated in the commons

• Passes to the senate

• Passes to the governor general

• Signed into law

• If a government bill is defeated in parliament we have a new election.

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