Debating Confederation

Today in class we re-enacted the Charlottetown Conference, with the students playing the roles of the Father's of Confederation. We debated issues such as defence, building a railway, provision of a subsidy for the Maritime colonies and Confederation. I was so proud of the effort so many students went through - dressing in shirts and ties, making top hats out of construction paper and reading eloquent speeches about the threat of Fenian invasion and the need for increased trade between the colonies. Many students in both of my History classes come to English as a second language, but that did deter them from participating. As the chair of the meeting, I could barely keep up with the demands to get their names on the speaker's list. We will continue the debates tomorrow. Will we decide to come together to create a new nation from six diverse British colonies? I can't wait to hear the results...

The Causes of Confederation

Last week in History we learned the causes or factors which led to confederation of the British North American colonies, to form the country of Canada. One of the greatest factors was the fear of American takeover. Americans had recently purchased Alaska from the Russians, American settlers were moving into the Red River Colony in search of land and into British Columbia in search of gold. In addition there was a fear of Fenian invasion of the colonies. Fenians were Irish Americans, who had attacked the colonies to get back at Britian. United, the colonies would be better able to defend themselves. Trade was a third factor. The loss of trade deals with both Britian and the United States led the colonies to consider a union in order to promote trade between the colonies. A union would also help the colonies to build railways, which were needed for trade and defence. Finally, the British were happy to be rid of the colonies, which were becoming a burden.