Talks for Confederation started in the early 1860's but the most important talks were the Charlottetown Conference and the Quebec Conference to form a Dominion formed of three Provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Province of Canada. Yes, the Province of Canada formed of the former provinces of Lower and Upper Canada. Lower Canada and Upper Canada were united in 1841 with one government. People heard of Lower and Upper Canada but for some reason, they never really taught us about the Union Act of 1841 at school.
The first Conference was the one in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. In March and April of 1864 the Maritime Provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island wanted to unite. In June, Canada decided that it wanted to be at the Conference and propose a union of the all of BNA (British North America). At the Conference Plans for unionised Maritimes were dropped and larger plans were created: A Confederation of all of BNA. The Conference took place September 1st to 9th, 1964 in Charlottetown. Five delegates from each province were at the Conference and although some Newfoundlanders wanted to be part of it they weren't notified in time.
The Quebec Conference was, unlike the Charlottetown Conference, completely for the union of BNA as opposed as the Maritimes. This time, Newfoundland was there. Thirty-three delegates were there, representing Canada, Newfoundland, PEI, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. They decided things about how the government shall be constituted. PEI disagreed with the decision that Members of Parliament were based on population. There were 72 resolutions, only adopted officially by Canada which were the basis of Debate at the Quebec Conference and were the basis of the BNA act of 1867.
The British North America Act (1867) was passed May 8th, 1867. Canada was separated into two and renamed Ontario and Quebec. Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were the other two Provinces. Although Newfoundland and PEI were at the Conferences, they would only join later.
There were 33 fathers of Confederation but here are the Main ones: Sir John Alexander MacDonald, Sir Georges-Étienne Cartier, George Brown, Sir Charles Tupper and Sir Alexander Tilloch Galt. John A. MacDonald was born in Scotland but migrated to Canada. He represented Canada West (Ontario) and became the first Prime Minister of the newly formed Dominion of Canada. George Etienne Cartier was born in Quebec. He represented the people of Canada East (Quebec) and especially the Canadiens (French Speaking People, the English speaking people were known as British). George Brown, another Scott, was from Upper Canada (Canada West/Ontario) as well. He entered the Coalition for the Creation of the Dominion. Sir Charles Tupper was Prime Minister of Nova Scotia and did, like Cartier and MacDonald, much for the Canadian Pacific Railway. He played an important part in both Conferences. Sir Alexander Tilloch Galt was born in London and moved to Lower Canada. He was Minister of Finance in the MacDonald-Cartier Administration. He also was at both Conferences.
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