Anti-Confederation was the name used in what is now the Maritimes by several parties opposed to Canadian Confederation. The Anti-Confederation parties were accordingly opposed by the Confederation Party, that is, the Conservative and Liberal-Conservative parties.[1]
While many anti-confederationists threatened to secede and join the United States, Howe was a pragmatist and ultimately accepted Confederation as a fact. He was soon persuaded to join the Cabinet of Sir John A. Macdonald, leading to the movement's collapse (1869).
"...the scheme [confederation with Canada] by them assented to would, if adopted, deprive the people [of Nova Scotia] of the inestimable privilege of self-government, and of their rights, liberty and independence, rob them of their revenue, take from them the regulation of trade and taxation, expose them to arbitrary taxation by a legislature over which they have no control, and in which they would possess but a nominal and entirely ineffective representation; deprive them of their invaluable fisheries, railways, and other property, and reduce this hitherto free, happy, and self-governed province to a degraded condition of a servile dependency of Canada."
— from Address to the Crown by the Government (Journal of the House of Assembly, Province of Nova Scotia, 1868)
New BrunswickEdit
A.J. Smith led the Anti-Confederationists in New Brunswick
There was also an Anti-Confederation Party in New Brunswick led by Albert James Smith, whose coalition of Conservatives and Reformers won the 1865 election. It was, however, soundly defeated in the 1866 election by the Confederation Party led by Peter Mitchell. The legislature that resulted from that election approved Confederation by a margin of 38 to 1. Accordingly, in the 1867 federal election the Anti-Confederates did not win any of New Brunswick's fifteen seats in the House of Commons of Canada.[2]
While in Nova Scotia and elsewhere, opponents of confederation were predominantly Liberals and supporters were predominantly Tories, in New Brunswick the debate blurred party lines. Anti-Confederate leader Albert Smith and Confederate Peter Mitchell were both Conservatives, while one of the most prominent leaders of the pro-Confederation forces, Samuel Leonard Tilley, was a Liberal. Tilley later joined the government of Sir John A. Macdonald. Both Anti-Confederate and Confederate forces were mixtures of Tories and Reformers (Liberals).
By 1870, the Confederate and Anti-Confederate parties had dissolved and were replaced by the old Liberal and Tory parties.
^Beck, J. Murray. (1983) Joseph Howe: The Briton Becomes Canadian 1848–1873. (v.2). Kingston & Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press. ISBN0-7735-0388-9
Reports of meetings held in the province of Nova Scotia, to consider a repeal of the "British North America Act, 1867."(1868)
October 19, 2023
anti, confederation, party, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Anti Confederation Party news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message Anti Confederation was the name used in what is now the Maritimes by several parties opposed to Canadian Confederation The Anti Confederation parties were accordingly opposed by the Confederation Party that is the Conservative and Liberal Conservative parties 1 Anti Confederation PartyLeaderJoseph HoweFounded1867 1867 Dissolved1870 1870 IdeologyRegionalism Populism Anti Canadian Confederation Anti Canadian nationalismPolitics of CanadaPolitical partiesElections Contents 1 Nova Scotia 2 New Brunswick 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksNova Scotia EditIn 1867 in Nova Scotia Anti Confederates won 36 out of 38 seats in the provincial legislature and formed a government under William Annand See 24th General Assembly of Nova Scotia The Anti Confederation Party was opposed by the Confederation Party of Charles Tupper Prominent Anti confederates included the noted shipbuilder William D Lawrence Alfred William Savary and the wealthy merchant Enos Collins Federally in the 1867 federal election the Anti Confederates won 18 of Nova Scotia s 19 seats in the House of Commons of Canada Joseph Howe won the federal seat in Hants County Nova Scotia while William D Lawrence won the Hants County provincial seat Britain however refused to allow Nova Scotia to secede While many anti confederationists threatened to secede and join the United States Howe was a pragmatist and ultimately accepted Confederation as a fact He was soon persuaded to join the Cabinet of Sir John A Macdonald leading to the movement s collapse 1869 the scheme confederation with Canada by them assented to would if adopted deprive the people of Nova Scotia of the inestimable privilege of self government and of their rights liberty and independence rob them of their revenue take from them the regulation of trade and taxation expose them to arbitrary taxation by a legislature over which they have no control and in which they would possess but a nominal and entirely ineffective representation deprive them of their invaluable fisheries railways and other property and reduce this hitherto free happy and self governed province to a degraded condition of a servile dependency of Canada from Address to the Crown by the Government Journal of the House of Assembly Province of Nova Scotia 1868 New Brunswick Edit nbsp A J Smith led the Anti Confederationists in New BrunswickThere was also an Anti Confederation Party in New Brunswick led by Albert James Smith whose coalition of Conservatives and Reformers won the 1865 election It was however soundly defeated in the 1866 election by the Confederation Party led by Peter Mitchell The legislature that resulted from that election approved Confederation by a margin of 38 to 1 Accordingly in the 1867 federal election the Anti Confederates did not win any of New Brunswick s fifteen seats in the House of Commons of Canada 2 While in Nova Scotia and elsewhere opponents of confederation were predominantly Liberals and supporters were predominantly Tories in New Brunswick the debate blurred party lines Anti Confederate leader Albert Smith and Confederate Peter Mitchell were both Conservatives while one of the most prominent leaders of the pro Confederation forces Samuel Leonard Tilley was a Liberal Tilley later joined the government of Sir John A Macdonald Both Anti Confederate and Confederate forces were mixtures of Tories and Reformers Liberals By 1870 the Confederate and Anti Confederate parties had dissolved and were replaced by the old Liberal and Tory parties See also EditList of political parties in Canada Secessionist movements of CanadaReferences Edit Beck J Murray 1983 Joseph Howe The Briton Becomes Canadian 1848 1873 v 2 Kingston amp Montreal McGill Queen s University Press ISBN 0 7735 0388 9 Profile 1867 08 07 lop parl ca Retrieved 2020 08 29 External links EditAnti Confederation Petition from Nova Scotia June 1868 Reports of meetings held in the province of Nova Scotia to consider a repeal of the British North America Act 1867 1868 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Anti Confederation Party amp oldid 1135365679, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
