Page 33 The Morden World Histroy The French feared that their way of life would be swamped by their more numerous neighbors. In 1837 there were riots in both provinces so Britain sent Lord Durham to report on the situation. He stayed only seven months and annoyed most Canadians he met. Yet back home he wrote a report which became a blueprint for the Commonweath type of empire we know today, with each part a separate, self-governing unit loyal to the Queen. Durham made two suggestions. First , he thought Ontario and Quebec should be united so that the French would be outnumbered. Secound, he suggested that Canadians should be allowed to govern themselves in all home affairs in order to prevent another war of independence. His superiors accepted the first suggestion immediately. The second was made law in 1867. By the British North America Act for provinces, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia were formed into one country. Dominion status did not mean independence until the twentieth century( see Chapter 15 ) But it helped Canadian developed in four ways. Trade could move about the country without duties and defence could be planned on a national scale. The government could often bargain with foreign countries in trading matters on an equal basis. Last but not least Britain had found a way of keeping her Empire. Soon railways helped to bind the continent together even more securely. In 1869-70 Rupert’s land and Manitoba joined the Dominion, followed soon afterwards by British Columbia, Prince Edward Island and North-West Territory. The final link came in 1885 when railways spanned the continents and reached the Pacific coast. Across lonely prairies and mountains unknown even to Indians, the enginners built a line which united Canada more surely than Act of Parliament. Settlers followed the engineers and soon the empty prairies of Saskatchewan and Alberta were transformed into vast farms supplying Europe Wheat. Durham’s home rule idea was applied to Australia also. Like Canada the isolated Australian states were unconnected for many years.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Nov 2014 23:11:34 +0000
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