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Period: to
1840-1867
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The Durham Report
(Not sure of the exact date) On this day Lord Durham introduced the draft of the Union of Canada. Lord Durham was a British politician who was sent to North America in 1838 to investigate the causes of the two rebellions in 1837, in the colonies of Upper and Lower Canada. The Durham Report led to reform and changes including the union of the two Canadas into one single colony. It also helped propel the idea of responsible government. -
The Act of Union
The Act of Union was passed by British Parliament in July of 1840 and proclaimed on February 10, 1841. This act united the colonies of Upper Canada and Lower Canada under one system of government. This created the Province of Canada. -
Montreal becomes the capital
Montreal was considered a city in 1832 and was the capital of the Province of Canada from 1844 to 1849. The following year, a Tory mob burned down the Parliament Building to protest the passage of the Rebellion Losses Bill, and as a result the capital city was changed to Ottawa. -
The Great Irish Famine begins
The Great Irish Famine between 1845 and 1852 was a period of mass starvation, disease and emigration from Ireland. It is sometimes referred to as the Irish Potato Famine because the cause was a potato disease called potato blight. It spread through potato crops throughout Europe during the 1840s. The impact on Ireland was especially horrible because one third of the population was dependent on the potatoes for political, social and economic reasons. -
Responsible Government begins in the Province of Canada
In the history of Canada, responsible government was one of the major elements in the move toward independence. Nova Scotia had responsible government starting in January/February 1848, with help from Joseph Howe. The colony of New Brunswick followed in May 1848. The Province of Canada put responsible government to the test in 1849. During this time reformers in the legislature passed the Rebellion Losses Bill. -
The Grand Trunk Railway Company is established
Construction of the Grand Trunk Railway between Montreal and Toronto was one of the main factors that pushed British North America toward the idea of Confederation. The original layout of the colonial economy was structured along the water, from the Maritimes up the St. Lawrence River and to the lower Great Lakes. This was greatly expanded by the route of the Grand Trunk Railway. -
The Intercolonial Railway is opened
A railway connecting Britain's North American colonies was a popular request as the rail age began in the 1830s. In the years following the War of 1812, the colonies of Upper and Lower Canada wished to improve transportation with the Atlantic coast colonies of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. A railway connecting the Province of Canada and the British colonies on the coast would serve an important military function during the winter months. -
The Charlottetown Conference is held
In the spring of 1864, New Brunswick Premier Samuel Leonard Tilley, Nova Scotia Premier Charles Tupper and Prince Edward Island Premier John Hamilton Gray met in Charlottetown and contemplated the idea of a Maritime Union to join those three colonies. -
The Quebec Conference is held
The conference began on October 10, 1864, at what is now called Montmorency Park. Étienne-Paschal Taché was elected chairman, but he was frequently interrupted by John A. Macdonald. Despite political differences and opposing views on the issues, the conference ran smoothly and there was much discussion on the topic of the success of the Charlottetown Conference. -
The London Conference is held
In December 1866, 16 delegates from the Province of Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia travelled to London, where Queen Victoria met privately with each. They began to draft the British North America Act. It was agreed that the new country should be called Canada, Canada East renamed Quebec, and Canada West renamed Ontario. -
Queen Victoria gives royal assent to the British North America Act
Delegates had completed their draft of the British North America Act by February 1867. The Act was presented to Queen Victoria on February 11, 1867 and introduced to the House of Lords the next day. The bill was approved by the House of Lords, then by the British House of Commons. The Queen gave royal assent to the British North America Act on March 29, 1867. -
Date of Confederation
This was the day that the federal Dominion of Canada was formed, under the British North America Act. This was when the four original colonies came together to create the federal Dominion of Canada. -
The original four colonies join Confederation
The four original colonies were Ontario (Upper Canada and Canada West), Quebec (Lower Canada and Canada East), Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. They were the first to agree to Confederation. They created the Federal Dominion of Canada, the base upon which Canada was formed.
