The+Conferences

The Conferences of Confederation

The Dominion of Canada was not formed in one day, but during a series of Conferences. Three Conferences took place between 1864 - 1867 (nearly three years!). The purpose of the Conferences were to discuss the union of British North America's colonies to make an independent country.

Read about the Conferences below, and visit the links for each one.


 * = The Charlottetown Conference (September 1864)  ||
 * = [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Charlottetown_Conference_Delegates%2C_September_1864.JPG/800px-Charlottetown_Conference_Delegates%2C_September_1864.JPG width="560" height="385" align="left"]] ||
 * = =====Delegates at the Charlottetown Conference. Source: Wikimedia Commons ===== ||

In September 1864, leaders from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island planned to meet to discuss forming a Maritime Union. The politicians from the Province of Canada (what became Quebec and Ontario) asked if they could attend the Charlottetown Conference. The leaders from the Province of Canada convinced the leaders of the Maritime Provinces to form a larger union.

Click Here to explore the Charlottetown Conference


 * = The Quebec Conference (October 1864)  ||
 * < [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Fathers_of_Confederation_LAC_c001855.jpg width="600" height="347" align="left"]] ||
 * = Delegates at the Quebec Conference. Source: Library and Archives Canada/Jules. I Livernois/ C006350 ||

=
At the Quebec Conference, the leaders figured out how the new country would be run. The decisions that were made were called the Quebec Resolutions. Although the leaders from Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland attended the Quebec Conference, they decided not to join Confederation. ===== Click Here to explore the Quebec Conference.


 * The London Conference (December 1866 - January 1867) ||
 * [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Proclamation_Canadian_Confederation.jpg width="402" height="700" align="left"]] ||
 * Newspaper from May 22, 1867. Source: Wikimedia Commons ||

The London Conference took place in London, England. Leaders from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the Provinces of Canada took the rough draft of the Quebec Resolutions and created the British North America Act. British Parliament approved the Act on March 29, 1867, so Confederation could take place.

Click Here to explore the London Conference.

Questions

With your partner(s), answer the following questions in your booklet.


 * Name and Year of Conference || British North American Colonies that Attended || Key Points -What Happened? ||

2. What was the name of modern day Canada ** before ** Confederation? What was the name of modern day Canada ** after ** Confederation?

3. The newspaper clipping comes from London, England. Explain the extent of influence that Great Britain had on Canada's Confederation.

4. Evaluate whether or not the ** newspaper clipping ** is a ** primary source ** or a ** secondary source **. Tell me why you have come to this decision.