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Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny was the belief of the Americans to expand their territory all over North America and to spread their cultures and beliefs as they believed them to be superior than other cultures and beliefs. This was also significant as it spread fear of American expansion and it motivated the Canadians to make the Confederation and also some of its early policies. -
Act of Union - Political Deadlock
Due to the Act of Union of 1841, the colonial government severely weakened and Rep by Pop was to be introduced as solution, but it failed as Canada East refused the Rep by Pop Law to pass. The people found another solution to unify the province of Canada to the other colonies strengthening the political power of English Canadians. So the Confederation decided that it would separate the two Canadas giving them its own legislature. This was also a very significant step towards the Confederation. -
Repeal of Corn Laws
When the Corn Laws were repealed by the British Empire showed that Britain was letting go of Canada, and as such Canada had to search for other countries to make economic alliances, setting Canada partially economically free from the British Empire. This was very significant in the establishment of the thought process of making of the Confederation. -
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U.S Civil War
The civil war of the Untied States showed the Canadians that the Britishers could no longer be trusted to protect the British North America and they would have to do something to stop the U.S, and as such was one of the significant causes of the making of Canadian Confederation. -
The Great Coalition of 1864
In 1864, Canada West's two principal groups of the Conservatives and the Clear Grits led by John A. Macdonald and George Brown respectively, formed an alliance, which was known as the Great Coalition and it sought union with the Atlantic colonies. This essentially gave the Confederation a driving force, something to lead with. -
Quebec Conference
Quebec Conference was also one of the major events leading to the Confederation as this was the conference where the delegates passed the 72 Resolutions including a constitutional framework for a new country. -
Charlottetown Conference
The Charlottetown Conference was one of the most significant event which led to the Confederation. The Great Coalition joined the Charlottetown Conference where the discussions for Maritime Union were taking place. They also attended the discussion were they proposed the idea of a united country, which quickly rose in popularity, making this conference a very significant event. -
End of Reciprocity at the end of U.S Civil War
Canada and the United States had negotiated a reciprocity treaty in 1854 which would allow Canada to make free trades with the U.S as such helping them soften the economic blow caused by the end of Corn Laws, but when the time came to renew the treaty, the Americans announced that they would not renew the treaty as such encouraging more anti-Americanism in the Canadians and bringing all the British North American colonies closer together. -
London Conference
London Conference was a very significant event in the process of making the Confederation as this was the final stage of translating the 72 resolutions of 1864 into legislation, making the Canadian Confederation. -
Start of Fenian Raids
The Fenian Raids were attacks made on Canada for making the British Empire to give up its claims on Ireland. These raids changed the public opinion of all British North American people as their opinions now tipped in the favour of making the Confederation, making this a significant event.