Colonies to Province

British Columbia

From Colonies to Confederation

• Physical Context• Human Context

• Indigenous• European Explorers• European Leaders

• Joining Confederation• Timeline• Demands• Taking its Place

Physical Context

Human Context- Indigenous Peoples

Human Context- Indigenous Peoples

Source: http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/data/cen01/abor/aborbc.pdf

Confederation- Timeline

Confederation (?)Three options for BC after 1867:

1. Remain a Crown Colony (Status Quo)2. Annexation to the United States3. Confederation

(pg 178)Three main problems for Confederation:

1. Geography -Distance from Ottawa and London2. Economic – Links to US which was more

developed (transportation/communication – railroads/telegraphs)

3. Defence – Britain needed base on the Pacific but Esquimalt expensive to maintain

Confederation (?)Three options for BC after 1867:

1. Remain a Crown Colony (Status Quo)2. Annexation to the United States3. Confederation

(pg 178)

Confederation (?)Colony Province State

Confederation- The “Players”Anti-Confederation led by J.S.

Helmckem, he like Governor Seymour, did not think Confederation practical

Pro-Confederation position most vocal leader was Amor de Cosmos who thought Confederation would lead to “Responsible Government”

Annexationists were mostly merchants in Victoria who thought joining the US would strengthen the economy

Confederation- Opposing ForcesGov. Seymour died in 1869Gov. Musgrave, who advocated

Confederation, was a friend of Canadian PM Sir John A MacDonald, replaced Seymour.

BC’s Assembly was divided by members from Vancouver Island who opposed confederation and members from the Mainland who supported it. Colonial officials in BC (mostly British) also opposed it.

Musgrave needed to reconcile these groups

Confederation: Musgrave’s Solution: 1870He guaranteed Colonial officials pensions and

jobs from the Canadian governmentColonial officials were also alarmed by

Annexationists by forcing them to chose between Canada or the US

Musgrave chose Helmcken, Carrol and Joseph Trutch to be delegates to Ottawa for the Confederation negotiations

The Canadians gave in to all their demands: the railway was to built in two years, BC’s debt paid, etc.

AND gave responsible government

Confederation

Confederation- A good deal?

Yes- Canada Yes- BC

No- Canada No- BC

Confederation- Taking its Place

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