Why was charlottetown conference held

The delegates agreed to meet again in Quebec City the following month. Quebec Resolutions Quebec Resolutions read more Albans Raid St. Albans Raid read more Road to Union The Charlottetown Conference. The Charlottetown Conference By the early s, the British colonies of North America were considering the benefits of a union.

The American Civil War had created a new military power and a renewed threat to the small, divided colonies to the north. And British public opinion had been in favour of reducing, if not eliminating government spending in North America, especially for defence.

Courtesy of the National Archives of Canada. Current Topic: The Charlottetown Conference. The Quebec Conference. Johnson , M. Attorney General, N. Samuel Leonard Tilley , M. Secretary, N. Dickey , M. Gray , M. Palmer , M. Attorney General, P. Botsford Chandler , M. Langevin , M. Charles Tupper , M. Galt , M. Adams G. Archibald , M. Campbell , M.

Commissioner of Crown Land Hon. McDougall , M. Pope , M. Colonial Secretary, P. McCully , M. Coles , M. Brown , M. Lee , Clerk Executive Council. Confederation could also improve east—west economic links if the Americans abrogated the Reciprocity Treaty concluded by the governor, Lord Elgin [ Bruce ], in — which indeed they did in By stresses and strains within Canada were near the breaking point.

The population of Canada West Upper Canada; present-day Ontario was outstripping that of Canada East Lower Canada; present-day Quebec , yet the political system gave equal representation to both sections of the province. As the Reform party became stronger in Canada West, the situation became increasingly unstable.

Between and there were two elections, four administrations, and an atmosphere that was increasingly tense and acrimonious. Among the opponents was Macdonald, who preferred legislative union with a strong central government to a federal system. But Cartier had endorsed federalism, and without his support, Macdonald would have been politically isolated. Partly for this reason, and partly because he saw the possibility of a broader alliance with Conservatives such as Charles Tupper in the Maritimes, Macdonald quickly adjusted to new realities.