There were many factors that brought all the colonies together into a strong nation. They were problems that with confederation could be easily solved. If the British North American colonies did not bring confederation the Americans would dominate over them. So, what are the factors that brought the colonies together and made our country the strong nation it is today?
One of the factors is threat of American takeover. After the American civil war when the north won the Canadians were afraid that the Americans would then attack Canada. The Americans also believed that one day they would own all of North America including Canada. This scared the British North American colonies. If there were not to come together they would be dominated by the Americans, but if they came together into confederation they would be a strong country with a larger defence system that could protect them against the US.
Trouble with trade was another problem. Britain wanted free trade no taxes. The British North American colonies did not agree. If Britain demanded free trade and no taxes how would the colonies get their money for all the goods that they were producing? The only way to end this is confederation. If they came together as a strong central government they would no longer be controlled by Britain so they wouldn’t be forced into free trade, they could still get profit for their goods. Also the colonies could freely trade with each other because now no longer are they competition they are all part of the same nation working together.
The Fenians were a HUGE problem in the 1860’s. The Fenians were Irish American soldiers that were super aggressive. The colonies on their own didn’t have enough defence to protect themselves over the Fenians; they would end up taking over all of the colonies eventually. So they all came together to create a larger defence so that they are stronger and can take over the Fenians, this also intimidated the Fenians because not now do they only have to deal with a small army they have a whole nation to fight against.
They colonies needed rail links. They needed them to trade back and forth between all the colonies but railways cost money which some colonies didn’t have. If the colonies were united then they wouldn’t need the railways to transport goods between them all and if they still did need railways they country would have a federal government which looks over everyone’s affairs including trade so they could pay for the railways to be put in.
Lastly is changing British attitudes. Britain wanted nothing to do with the British North American colonies anymore. They wanted to cut them loose and let them go because they were mad with them. If Britain was to let them go the British Navy wouldn’t be there to protect them they would have no form of government or trade system, they would be lost. They needed a backup plan; if Britain was to throw them out they could come together and make their own nation, still being successful.
Those 5 factors are the important problems that brought the colonies all together into Canada. Even though they were big problems back in the 1860’s they were important to our country and without them we may not be a strong nation like we are today.
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