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Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny was a philosophy from the United States that believed they would eventually expand throughout North America, including into what is now Canadian territory. -
The First Railway
The first railway built in Canada was the Champlain and St Lawrence Railroad. It allowed transportation of goods and people to be transported in a more efficient and profitable manner. It linked colonies together, created new opportunities for people and enabled growth. -
Repeal of the Corn Laws
The Corn Laws were costoms dutirs on agricutural items, these laws have greatly benefited the British colonies. The repeal of theses laws lost favourable trading terms and began trading with the United States. -
Polictal Deadlock
In the late 1850s the government of Canada reached a political deadlock. A political deadlock is when neither parties can’t make any process because they can’t agree on anything. At the time Canada East and Canada West received an equal amount of seats and led to equal number of people blocking each others ideas. -
Reciprocity Treaty
The Reciprocity Treaty enabled free trade between the United States and British North America. -
US Civil War - April 12, 1861 to May 10, 1865
The U.S. Civil war, was a conflict relating slavery. It was between the Northern US states (Union) who were against it, and the Southern states (Confederacy). within the United States ost of Canada supported the Union side as they were against slavery. However, people believed that following the civil war, that the States would annex Canada. -
End of Reciprocity
The Reciprocity Treaty enabled free trade between the United States and British North America. The treaty increased trade and was very profitable to the Maritimes colonies. In 1899, the United States abrogated the treaty the same time as they passed their Annexation Bill. The result of this was a sudden loss of trading for the colonies. -
Fenians Raids
The Fenians were people who part of a secret society called the Fenian brotherhood which was formed by Irish Americans. Their goal was to secure Irish independence from english rule, while also freeing Canada from english rule for strategy purposes. They commenced raids around New Brunswick, Canada East and Canada West to cause alarm, which helped convince the need for confederation. -
Canada's Confederation