Road to Confederation
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Road to Confederation
A changing political landscape
In the early 1800s, British North America was made up of separate colonies. In Upper and Lower Canada, elected assemblies could debate laws, but governors and appointed councils held important powers. Many reformers wanted governments to answer more directly to elected representatives. Rebellions broke out in Upper and Lower Canada in 1837–1838. They were defeated, but demands for political change continued. In 1848, responsible government took hold in the Province of Canada: the executive had to retain the confidence of the elected assembly. By the 1860s, leaders discussed joining some colonies in a federation. They considered how to share powers while addressing concerns about defence, trade, political deadlock in the Province of Canada, and the cost of governing. At the Charlottetown and Quebec conferences in 1864, delegates debated proposals. The British North America Act came into effect on 1 July 1867, creating the Dominion of Canada from Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. Other colonies joined later; Confederation did not include all of what is now Canada in 1867.
1837–1838 Rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada
1848 Responsible government takes hold in the Province of Canada
1864 Charlottetown and Quebec conferences
1 July 1867 Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick form the Dominion of Canada
Read the evidence
A reformer’s argument, written in the 1830s: “Those who make the laws should be answerable to the people’s elected representatives, and public money should be openly accounted for.” This is a classroom-written summary of ideas raised by reformers, not a historical quotation.
- Governors and appointed councils
- Local mayors
- The elected assembly alone
- Delegates at the 1864 conferences
- Upper Canada
- Nova Scotia
- Lower Canada
- New Brunswick
3 printable pages
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
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