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Union of Upper and Lower Canada
The act of Union of 1840 was passed by the British Parliament on July 23rd, 1840, and was proclaimed officially by the Crown on February 10th, 1841. Thus was formed the Province of Canada, and it would remain as such until 1867.
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/province-of-canada-1841-67/ -
Charles Bagot
The Crown appointed Charles Bagot as the Governer General of the Province of Canada. He would serve for roughly 2 years, until 1843.
http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/bagot_charles_7E.html -
James Bruce, 8th earl of Elgin
Lord Elgin was appointed governer general of Canada from 1847, and continued to serve until 1854. Under his direction, Canada adopted its first real responsible government in 1848. He convinced the colonial office to concede responsible government, which they had previously resisted. He caused lots of unrest, and the burning of the Parliment Buildings in 1849, when he signed the Rebellion Losses Bill. -
Responsible Government
In the context of British North America, to have responsible government meant that the Executive Council had to obtain and maintain the support of a majority of members of the House of Assembly in order to be able to govern the province. Although the Durham report called for a ressponsible government, as well as the union of Upper and Lower Canada, only the latter was implemented until late 1848.
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/confederation/023001-3010.44-e.html -
Parliament Buildings Burned
In anger over Governer General Lord Elgin signing the Rebellion Losses Bill, a bill allowing citezens to be compesated for damage sustain to their property during the war of 1812, an angry Tory mob burned the Parliament Buildings to the ground.
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/montreal-riots/ -
Reciprocity Treaty
The reciprocity treaty was in effect from 1854 to 1865, and lessend the taxes on goods flowing back and forth between British North America and the United States. Although it was not free trade, it was a large step in this direction, and greatly benifited most Canadians.
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/reciprocity/ -
Grand Trunk Railway
A milestone for the Grand Trunk Railway System, it connects with the east coast via Portland, Maine, U.S. and goes as far west as Sarnia by the early 1860s .
http://www.canada-rail.com/ontario/railways/GTR.html#.VGqptVfF9R4 -
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American Civil War
The American Civil War was caused by the American south, or the Confederation, trying to cecede from the Union, or the north. There were numerous factors, primarily social and economic differences of opinion, including taxation and slavery. This caused many slaves attempting to flee the United States to Canada, many successful, via the "Underground Railroad".
http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/civil-war-overview/overview.html -
Confederation
After years of argument and deliberation, the provinces of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia became the Federal Dominion of Canada. The existing United Province of Canada was divided into Ontaria and Quebec, so their were four provinces in total. Many factors contributed to this, including political unrest and threat of war, and financial benefits.
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/confederation/
