Canadian Confederation

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Canadian Confederation

Canadian Confederation was the process by which the British colonies of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia were united into one Dominion of Canada on July 1, 1867. This event marked the beginning of a new nation, with its own federal government and constitution, while still remaining part of the British Empire.

Background

The idea of uniting the British North American colonies had been discussed for many years. Factors such as economic challenges, defense concerns, and political deadlock in the Province of Canada (which was divided into Canada West and Canada East) contributed to the push for Confederation. The Charlottetown Conference in 1864 was a pivotal meeting where representatives from the colonies discussed the possibility of a union.

Key Conferences

Several key conferences were held to negotiate the terms of Confederation:

• Charlottetown Conference (1864) - Initially intended to discuss a maritime union, it became the first meeting to discuss a larger union of all British North American colonies.
• Quebec Conference (1864) - Delegates from the Province of Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island met to draft the Quebec Resolutions, which outlined the framework for Confederation.
• London Conference (1866) - The final conference where the British North America Act (now the Constitution Act, 1867) was drafted and agreed upon.

British North America Act

The British North America Act, 1867 was the legislation passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom that created the Dominion of Canada. It established the federal structure, dividing powers between the federal government and the provinces. The Act served as Canada's constitution until it was patriated in 1982, becoming the Constitution Act, 1982.

Initial Provinces

The original provinces that joined Confederation in 1867 were:

• Ontario (formerly Canada West)
• Quebec (formerly Canada East)
• New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia

Expansion of Canada

After 1867, other provinces and territories joined Canada:

• Manitoba (1870)
• British Columbia (1871)
• Prince Edward Island (1873)
• Alberta and Saskatchewan (1905)
• Newfoundland and Labrador (1949)

Significance

Canadian Confederation was a significant milestone in the country's history, laying the foundation for its political and legal systems. It allowed for greater economic cooperation and defense coordination among the provinces and established a framework for future expansion and development.

Related Pages

• History of Canada
• Province of Canada
• Charlottetown Conference
• Quebec Conference
• London Conference
• British North America Act, 1867
• Constitution Act, 1982
• List of Canadian provinces and territories by date of entry