In 1864, 3 years before the British North American colonies formed as a part of the Dominion of Canada, a series of Confederation Conferences took place, governed by the officials of each colony, to decide whether or whether not to join together to form a country. The three Confederation Conferences, in order from first to last, were the Charlottetown Conference, the Quebec Conference, and the London Conference. The Charlottetown Conference was conducted by the three premiers of the three Maritime Colonies, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia.
There were many factors discussed in the Charlottetown Conference that contemplated the idea of joining with the other Maritime provinces and eventually, Canada East and Canada West. The first of these factors is related to the U.S.A's interference in British North America.
New Brunswick being one of the closest colonies, grew a fear of United States. They believed that the United States would invade New Brunswick, and they wouldn't be prepared to defend against this threat. The Fenians also held a grudge against Britain, and decided to take out their anger at British North America, which included New Brunswick. With these raids, and the fear of U.S invasion looming over New Brunswick citizens, they believed that joining Confederation could eliminate these threats. Joining would mean more support from the other colonies, more armed forces, and a stronger combined army to defend British North America. As well as an increase in economy and trading because of the construction of the inter-colonial railway, New Brunswick certainly believed that union would be good for their citizens.
According to the steadily-growing population, New Brunswick would need more people in the trades business to contribute the colony's economy. As more people immigrate, the better the economy becomes. When the inter-colonial railway was built, it allowed transport across the colony and to other colonies, but there was still one difficulty that constantly threatened the people of New Brunswick: American Raids. If New Brunswick were to unite with the other Maritime colonies (Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia), there would be more goods being imported and exported, free of charge and taxes. The Americans would be deemed at the thought of raiding a colony with two other colonies as support and back-up. With the addition of the Inter-colonial railway, military movement would become much easier, and troops from Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island would be able to reach New Brunswick quicker to stop the Americans from raiding.
There would be many advantages if New Brunswick joined the confederation. Advantages for New Brunswick, and advantages for the other colonies. But all good comes with some bad, and this instance was no exception. The shipping business for St. John would increase, meaning there would be a bigger economic contribution from St. John making the overall economy much stronger. Aside from contribution from St. John, there would be an increase of sales for natural resources such as coal. While the overall economy would increase, the debt of each colony would decrease. Joining the confederation would make the debt shared between all colony; making it easier to pay off because they would not have to pay as much because they would pay as a collective unit. New Brunswick joining the Confederation would drastically increase, as they would get a much better contribution from the colonies as well as a less amount debt, increasing they’re economy drastically.
On the other hand, if New Brunswick were to join confederation, they would have to take on a part of Canada's debt, putting them under pressure. Also, there was no assurance that the inter-colonial railway would be ultimately built at the time, because the current economy was not stable enough to spend such a huge amount of money. Getting a loan from Britain would just over-complicate matters, not solving any of the problems.
Eventually, at the end of the Charlottetown Conference, most of the government officials were with the motion to join as part of Canada's confederation. Those who weren't, had a very valid reason. They were scared that the American Revolution might repeat itself. Though they knew that they would have a larger army and more goods and ammunition, it would still not be compared to the force of the United States Army. They were scared that if they are united with someone else, under another leader with his own terms and conditions, they will eventually end up partitioning, just like when New Brunswick was a part of Nova Scotia, and the Maritimes were all one. They felt that the last time they were united, they separated, so what was the guarantee that things might not end up like that again?
At the end, these people were outvoted, and the New Brunswick governors and the Nova Scotia governors voted for the positive outcome, Confederation. On the other hand, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland opted against Confederation. The Quebec conference had the same result, where the majority wanted a democratic, central government with all the colonies adjoined. Prince Edward Island was very disappointed as they would have to follow the new, united rule of Canada.
As two of the conferences had already registered their positive votes, the third conference was merely a formality, although Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island continued to rebel against confederation. In January 1867, the British North America Act was written, suggesting that the new country should be called Canada, Canada East being Quebec, and Canada West being Ontario. This bill was presented to Queen Victoria, then quickly presented to the House of Lords, where it was accepted. Then it was also approved by the British House of Commons, and the act received its royal assent on March 29, 1867, and July 1, 1867 was the set day for Confederation.
There were many factors discussed in the Charlottetown Conference that contemplated the idea of joining with the other Maritime provinces and eventually, Canada East and Canada West. The first of these factors is related to the U.S.A's interference in British North America.
New Brunswick being one of the closest colonies, grew a fear of United States. They believed that the United States would invade New Brunswick, and they wouldn't be prepared to defend against this threat. The Fenians also held a grudge against Britain, and decided to take out their anger at British North America, which included New Brunswick. With these raids, and the fear of U.S invasion looming over New Brunswick citizens, they believed that joining Confederation could eliminate these threats. Joining would mean more support from the other colonies, more armed forces, and a stronger combined army to defend British North America. As well as an increase in economy and trading because of the construction of the inter-colonial railway, New Brunswick certainly believed that union would be good for their citizens.
According to the steadily-growing population, New Brunswick would need more people in the trades business to contribute the colony's economy. As more people immigrate, the better the economy becomes. When the inter-colonial railway was built, it allowed transport across the colony and to other colonies, but there was still one difficulty that constantly threatened the people of New Brunswick: American Raids. If New Brunswick were to unite with the other Maritime colonies (Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia), there would be more goods being imported and exported, free of charge and taxes. The Americans would be deemed at the thought of raiding a colony with two other colonies as support and back-up. With the addition of the Inter-colonial railway, military movement would become much easier, and troops from Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island would be able to reach New Brunswick quicker to stop the Americans from raiding.
There would be many advantages if New Brunswick joined the confederation. Advantages for New Brunswick, and advantages for the other colonies. But all good comes with some bad, and this instance was no exception. The shipping business for St. John would increase, meaning there would be a bigger economic contribution from St. John making the overall economy much stronger. Aside from contribution from St. John, there would be an increase of sales for natural resources such as coal. While the overall economy would increase, the debt of each colony would decrease. Joining the confederation would make the debt shared between all colony; making it easier to pay off because they would not have to pay as much because they would pay as a collective unit. New Brunswick joining the Confederation would drastically increase, as they would get a much better contribution from the colonies as well as a less amount debt, increasing they’re economy drastically.
On the other hand, if New Brunswick were to join confederation, they would have to take on a part of Canada's debt, putting them under pressure. Also, there was no assurance that the inter-colonial railway would be ultimately built at the time, because the current economy was not stable enough to spend such a huge amount of money. Getting a loan from Britain would just over-complicate matters, not solving any of the problems.
Eventually, at the end of the Charlottetown Conference, most of the government officials were with the motion to join as part of Canada's confederation. Those who weren't, had a very valid reason. They were scared that the American Revolution might repeat itself. Though they knew that they would have a larger army and more goods and ammunition, it would still not be compared to the force of the United States Army. They were scared that if they are united with someone else, under another leader with his own terms and conditions, they will eventually end up partitioning, just like when New Brunswick was a part of Nova Scotia, and the Maritimes were all one. They felt that the last time they were united, they separated, so what was the guarantee that things might not end up like that again?
At the end, these people were outvoted, and the New Brunswick governors and the Nova Scotia governors voted for the positive outcome, Confederation. On the other hand, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland opted against Confederation. The Quebec conference had the same result, where the majority wanted a democratic, central government with all the colonies adjoined. Prince Edward Island was very disappointed as they would have to follow the new, united rule of Canada.
As two of the conferences had already registered their positive votes, the third conference was merely a formality, although Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island continued to rebel against confederation. In January 1867, the British North America Act was written, suggesting that the new country should be called Canada, Canada East being Quebec, and Canada West being Ontario. This bill was presented to Queen Victoria, then quickly presented to the House of Lords, where it was accepted. Then it was also approved by the British House of Commons, and the act received its royal assent on March 29, 1867, and July 1, 1867 was the set day for Confederation.