Canadian Confederation: Exploring the Founding Provinces and Territories

Posted on May 4, 2024 in Geography

CANADA EAST

Geographic Area

  • Southeast portion of modern-day Quebec
  • Formerly Lower Canada
  • Became Québec after Confederation
  • Primarily French-speaking region
  • Concerns over cultural and religious preservation during Confederation
  • Population of approximately 900,000 in 1851
  • Rural population

Economic Resources

  • Farm products: potatoes, rye, buckwheat, maple syrup, livestock
  • Lumber as the most important natural resource
  • Sawmills for processing lumber

Important Persons and Events

  • Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine and the 1848 political reform movement
  • George-Etienne Cartier and the promotion of Confederation

NOVA SCOTIA

Geographic Area

  • Located in the far east of Canada
  • One of Canada’s three Maritime provinces
  • Situated on the Atlantic Ocean
  • Population of 276,854 in 1851

Economic Resources

  • Main industries: fishing, lumber, shipbuilding, mining

Important Persons and Events

  • Charles Tupper and Nova Scotia’s entry into Confederation
  • Concerns over losing free trade with America

CANADA WEST

Geographic Area

  • Southwest portion of modern-day Ontario
  • Formerly Upper Canada
  • Became Ontario under Confederation
  • Population of about 950,000 people
  • Primarily English-speaking region
  • Urban population in cities like Kingston and Toronto

Economic Resources

  • Immigration from England, Scotland, Ireland, and the United Empire Loyalists
  • Lumber as an important resource
  • Important industries: grain, lumber, fruit, textiles, machinery
  • Economic prosperity due to immigration, transportation, and free trade with the USA

Important Persons and Events

  • Robert Baldwin and the 1848 political reform movement
  • George Brown and the concept of representation by population
  • John A. Macdonald, leader of the Conservative party and Canada’s first Prime Minister

BRITISH COLUMBIA AND VANCOUVER ISLAND

Geographic Area

  • Located in the southwest corner of Canada
  • Population of 24,000 persons of European descent and 25,000 Indigenous peoples

Economic Resources

  • Main industries: fur trade, gold rush, forestry, small farms

Important Persons and Events

  • James Douglas, the first Governor of Vancouver Island
  • The Gold Rush
  • Entry into the Dominion of Canada in 1871 with the condition of building a transcontinental railway

NEW BRUNSWICK

Geographic Area

  • Located in the same place as present-day New Brunswick
  • Primarily English-speaking with a large Francophone minority
  • Coastal province located on the Atlantic Ocean

Economic Resources

  • Main industries: fishing, lumber, shipbuilding
  • Largest cities located on rivers

Important Persons and Events

  • Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley, a Father of Confederation
  • Joseph Howe, an anti-Confederation supporter

NEWFOUNDLAND

Geographic Area

  • Located in the far east of Canada
  • Similar to the current borders of Newfoundland with the addition of Labrador
  • Population of 96,000 in 1845
  • Primarily English-speaking with Mi’kmaq First Nations and European descendants
  • Newest province to join Canada in 1949

Economic Resources

  • Main industries: fishing, logging, mining, agriculture, pulp and paper

Important Persons and Events

  • Dr. William Carson and Patrick Morris, who obtained representative government and colonial status for Newfoundland

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Geographic Area

  • Smallest province in Canada
  • Located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence
  • Separated from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick by the Northumberland Strait

Economic Resources

  • Main industries: agriculture and farming (particularly potatoes)

Important Persons and Events

  • First inhabitants were the Mi’kmaq
  • Charlottetown Conference and PEI’s entry into Confederation in 1873
  • Considered the birthplace of Confederation

NORTH-WESTERN TERRITORY

Geographic Area

  • Located in the northwest part of British North America
  • Home to immigrants seeking gold and Indigenous peoples

Economic Resources

  • Land used for the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway
  • Gold mining and fur trade

Important Persons and Events

  • The North-West Rebellion of 1885 due to grievances with Indian Treaties
  • Louis Riel, leader of the North-West Rebellion and Red River Resistance
  • The Gold Rush

FIRST NATIONS

Population Settlements

  • Mi’kmaq as original inhabitants of the Atlantic provinces
  • Also present in British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba

Relationships with British Settlers

  • Socio-cultural disruption
  • Impact of European diseases
  • Participation in the fur trade
  • Effects of The Indian Act and Residential Schools

Important Leaders

  • Shawnee leaders Tecumseh and Tenskwatawah, allies in the War of 1812
  • Louis Riel, Métis leader of the Red River Rebellion and North-West Resistance
  • Mistahi-maskwa (Big Bear), Plains Cree chief known for defending First Nations lands and culture
  • Poundmaker, Cree chief involved in the North-West Rebellion

RUPERT’S LAND

Geographic Area

  • Owned by the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC)
  • Purchased by the Government of Canada after Confederation
  • Encompassed northern Canada, including parts of modern-day Quebec, Labrador, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut

Economic Resources

  • Fur trade, particularly in beaver pelts

Important Persons and Events

  • George-Etienne Cartier and William McDougall, negotiators of the land transfer
  • The purchase of Rupert’s Land, making Canada the second-largest country in the world