Vocabulary
What were the 13 Colonies?
Thirteen British colonies in North America that eventually became the United States.
Why were many people unhappy with the governments of Upper and Lower Canada?
Unelected groups held most of the political power, and elected representatives had limited control over government decisions.
What was the name of the major famine that caused thousands of Irish people to immigrate to British North America? Where did it occur?
The Great Famine in Ireland
What is political deadlock?
When opposing political groups cannot agree, preventing the government from making important decisions.
Name the THREE conferences that led to Confederation.
Charlottetown Conference, Quebec Conference, and London Conference.
What was the Underground Railroad?
A secret network of routes and safe houses that helped enslaved people escape to freedom, including in British North America.
Who was Lord Durham, and why was he sent to British North America?
A British official sent to investigate the causes of the rebellions and recommend changes to the government.
What valuable resource caused thousands of people to travel to British Columbia in search of wealth?
Gold (the Gold Rush
What two regions made up the Province of Canada?
Canada East and Canada West.
Name THREE important political leaders who helped bring about Confederation.
John A. Macdonald, George-Étienne Cartier, and George Brown.
What was the Great Famine?
A period of widespread starvation in Ireland beginning in 1845, caused largely by potato crop failures.
What was the Act of Union (1840)?
A British law that united Upper and Lower Canada into the Province of Canada in 1841, creating Canada West and Canada East.
How did many enslaved people escape to British North America?
Underground Railroad
What is equal representation?
When two regions have the same number of representatives in government, regardless of their population.
Main purpose/Details of Charlottetown Conference.
Delegates discussed the possibility of uniting British North American colonies.
What was the Great Migration?
The large movement of immigrants, especially from Britain and Ireland, to British North America during the early to mid-1800s.
Were the Rebellions of 1837–1838 completely unsuccessful? Explain.
No. Although the rebellions were defeated, they helped encourage political reforms, including the eventual introduction of responsible government.
Name TWO reasons people immigrated to British North America during the 1800s.
Examples include escaping poverty, famine, seeking employment, acquiring land, searching for gold, or escaping slavery.
What is representation by population?
When the number of representatives a region receives is based on its population.
Main purpose/details of Quebec Conference.
Delegates created the 72 Resolutions outlining the proposed structure of Confederation.
What is Confederation?
The joining of British North American colonies to form the Dominion of Canada on July 1, 1867.
In what years did the rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada take place?
1837–1838
Explain how population growth contributed to disagreements between Canada East and Canada West.
As Canada West's population grew larger than Canada East's, politicians in Canada West demanded representation by population instead of equal representation. This contributed to political deadlock.
Why did political deadlock become a major problem in the Province of Canada?
Canada East and Canada West had equal representation despite differences in population. Political disagreements and opposing priorities made it difficult to pass laws and form stable governments.
Main purpose/details of London conference.
Delegates finalized the terms that led to the British North America Act of 1867.